'It got me down' - The Manchester United title-winner labelled the next Paul Scholes but criticised by fans

A playing career can pass by in an instant. Tom Cleverley hasn't yet truly reflected on the end of his after hanging his boots up in the summer, but as he looks back on the early chapters he remembers a fearless young midfielder taking the fight to Yaya Toure at Wembley a dozen summers ago.

It was August 2011 and Cleverley's Manchester United debut. The opponents were Manchester City in the Community Shield and the then 21-year-old was summoned at half-time along with Jonny Evans and Phil Jones. A newly-minted City, who had just won the FA Cup, were 2-0 up and hinting at the shift in power to come.

But under Sir Alex Ferguson, United roared back. More than 12 years on Cleverley can still remember the feeling in that second half as a goal from Chris Smalling and a Nani double secured victory.

ALSO READ: 'I regret not moving earlier' - The player Fergie tried to sign four times

ALSO READ: Meet the Hojlund brothers who could be better than Rasmus

"I think we played Barcelona in the States a couple of weeks before that game and I had a good game and it all led to coming on at half-time in that game and I felt fearless," Cleverley told the Manchester Evening News.

"It was unbelievable playing against world-class opposition like Yaya and feeling like we had our foot right on their throat and they didn't get a breath. Nani was incredible in the second half.

"After the game I thought, not that I’d made it, but I that don't feel out of place here and got my first England call-up straight off the back of that game."

He didn't know it at the time, but from a performance perspective, it was the height of Cleverley's career, which ended in the summer as he took up a coaching role with Watford.

He started in the win at West Brom