The former striker, who scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for the Reds between 1996 and 2007, has made a blistering start to his new role at Old Trafford, winning 14 of his first 17 matches.

And the man who scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich also suggested that, in his earlier days, he was more confident of becoming a coach or manager than a top-class player.