James Milner has revealed that his Leeds-supporting dad banned him from wearing the colour red as a child as he was brought up to dislike Manchester United.

The versatile midfielder admitted that he never owned any red shirts growing up due to his father's allegiances to the Yorkshire club.

However, Milner has since confirmed that his dad was happy to regularly see him in red following his switch to Liverpool in 2015.

James Milner has admitted that he wasn't allowed to wear the colour red growing up

Milner (right) was brought up to dislike Manchester United by his Leeds-supporting father

'It's true, yes,' Milner admitted to FourFourTwo when asked about his father's influences. 'Obviously Leeds fans are brought up to dislike Manchester United, as rivals, so red wasn’t allowed.

'I didn’t have any red shirts or anything, and the first time I ever wore it was probably for England.

'He did joke when I signed for Liverpool that it was the first time he’d be happy to see me regularly in red.'

The 32-year-old admits the first time he wore the colour red would have been for England

Milner has gone on to enjoy a stellar career since making his professional debut for Leeds, his boyhood club, at the age of 16.

The former England international has since gone on to enjoy spells at Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and finally Liverpool that has seen him pick up a Premier League winner's medal along the way.