FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED youngster Gareth Strange has embarked on a new career as an MMA fighter.

Strange, who joined the Red Devils as a nine-year-old and spent 11 years at the club, is set to appear at the Shinobi War MMA fighting championships next month.

He left United at the age of 21 and after a stint in non-league football, a torn meniscus forced him to quit football a few years later.

Now 33, Strange has spent the last few years training to be an MMA fighter.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Strange suggested his lack of height was a factor in his failure at Old Trafford and added:

“If you looked at the first-team and below there were some top players. Wes Brown, Jaap Stam, John O’Shea, Ronny Johnsen, John Curtis, Ronnie Wallwork.

“The first-team players were all really good with the young players. Roy Keane was top drawer. He wasn’t as people would imagine him to be. If you were on his team in training he wouldn’t shout and scream at you, he’d encourage and help you.

“I went to Kidderminster, Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers on trial and had offers from two American clubs.

“Kidderminster offered me a deal but the money wouldn’t have been enough to live on, so I took up an apprenticeship in joinery as a back-up and played semi-pro football until I had to quit.”

‘I would not mind substitute role at Barcelona’>

‘An outrageous slur’ – Charlie Austin takes to Twitter to hit back at West Ham owner>