MANCHESTER UNITED wonderkid Zidane Iqbal has named his two club idols – including a Red Devils legend and a forgotten youngster.
Much is expected of the United academy player who shone during pre-season.
Fans were also impressed with his efforts during the club’s friendly win over Spanish side Cadiz last week.
The 19-year-old is hoping to become the latest star to establish a first-team place at Old Trafford after emerging from their youth system.
Iqbal’s two idols went on a similar journey by coming through the academy.
He named the footballers he looked up to as Paul Scholes and Angel Gomes.
While both were youth stars for United, one went on to become a club legend while the other is plying their trade at Lille in France.
Iqbal told the club website: “The coaches mentioned Angel Gomes to me. Look at him now, playing for Lille in the Champions League.
“They mentioned Paul Scholes but they’re obviously the players who played down and have gone on to do well.
“Obviously, other players have played down and their careers have not gone as successfully as they wanted it to.
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“But I knew I could make the situation really good by looking up to players like Scholes and Angel, if they played down.
“I look at it as a positive, they’re doing it to better you, so that’s what I did and it helped me a lot.”
Iqbal’s only senior appearance for the club so far came in a Champions League match last season.
But the midfielder will hope to become an important player for the club like Scholes, who made over 700 appearances across two spells for United.
Unlike some others, Iqbal has not been sent on loan and could potentially help cover places in the squad if senior players are absent.
He is not the only promising youngster on the red side of Manchester who is generating excitement.
Amad Diallo has discovered excellent form on loan at Sunderland in the Championship and has scored five times in the Black Cats’ last seven games.
Meanwhile, the exciting and feisty Hannibal Mejbri has become a regular at Birmingham in the same division.
