Irwin: tour a chance for young stars to shine

FORMER Athletic defender Denis Irwin is hoping Manchester United’s summer tour will be the making of some of the club’s young players.

The former Republic of Ireland left back is well qualified to judge what it takes to make the step up.

The 44–year–old arrived at Old Trafford from Boundary Park after being a trainee at Leeds United and went on to make 529 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Irwin will see at first hand the way players such as new arrival Chris Smalling, Gabriel Obertan and Ritchie de Laet cope on the tour to North America.

He said: “It’s good to see some young lads on the trip, it’s a big year for a lot of them.

“I think the standard of MLS has improved, and the weather is going to be hot, so the tour will be a test for the boys.”

United face Celtic in Toronto on Friday and return to the United States with matches against Philadelphia Union, Kansas City Wizards and an MLS select XI before finishing in Mexico, where they will meet Chivas Guadalajara.