Sam Johnstone has become the latest Manchester United player to be targeted by thieves.

The goalkeeper, 22, returned from the club's Champions League victory in Bruges to find his £40,000 Mercedes had been stolen.

Thieves smashed their way into Johnstone's house in Sale, Manchester, took the keys to his black A Class AMG and drove it away.

Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone returned from Belgium to find his Mercedes has been stolen

Police believe Johnstone , pictured with partner Bryony Turner (left) was targeted by crooks who knew he would be away as Manchester United took on Club Bruges in the Champions League on Wednesday night

Thieves smashed their way into Johnstone's home and took keys to his A Class AMG (similar to this model)

Johnstone, pictured in 2011, is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Red Devils in the Premier League

SAM JOHNSTONE FACTFILE Born: Match 25, 1993 Man United first-team appearances: 0 Loan spells Walsall (2013) - Appearances: 7 Yeovil (2013) - Appearances: 1 Doncaster (2014) - Appearances: 18 Doncaster (2014-15) - Appearances: 10 Preston (2015) - Appearances: 22 Advertisement

Police believe Johnstone was targeted by crooks who knew he would be away.

The back-up stopper was on the bench 440 miles from Manchester as United beat Club Brugge 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.

Last year, then United midfielder Angel di Maria was at home with his family when raiders armed with scaffolding poles attempted to smash their way inside his home before being scared off by an alarm.

The Argentine, a record £59.7m signing from Real Madrid, left to join Paris St Germain after a year in Manchester.

Last year, raiders smashed their way into the home of Angel di Maria, who has since joined PSG this summer

The patio door of Di Maria's Cheshire mansion was boarded up after attackers tried to break in before being scared off by an alarm

A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: 'Police were called shortly before 10.40pm on Tuesday 25 August 2015 to a report of a burglary.

'Officers attended and discovered thieves had broken into the property and stolen a car from outside the property. 'Enquiries are on-going to trace the offenders.'

Johnstone's partner, Bryony Turner, later tweeted: 'When you work hard for things and then people invade your privacy and steal it.'

Johnstone's partner, Bryony Turner, later tweeted: 'When you work hard for things and then people invade your privacy and steal it.'