[Sport] James Weir: Former Manchester United prospect now playing in Slovakia

[rlex]

 

That same day, another talented young player also made his first league appearance for the club. Louis van Gaal sent 20-year-old James Weir on as an 89th-minute substitute - but it would be the only time the reserve-team captain would feature in the senior side.

While Rashford has gone on to score more goals for United than Eric Cantona, is a central figure for England, has become a campaigner for social change and even been awarded an MBE, his former housemate Weir's life has taken a different trajectory.

That one minute - plus injury time - against the Gunners is now a distant memory. As Rashford gears up to face Chelsea on Sunday, Weir, now 25, finds himself immersed in a relegation battle in Slovakia.

Sharing a house - and a debut - with Rashford
Weir joined United's academy as a 13-year-old from Preston and lived in digs with the same family as Rashford, who was two years younger.

"Since the age of 11 or 12 he was treated special," Weir tells BBC Sport. "In Manchester they knew he would become good for the first team. I knew him quite well as we lived together.

"Maybe I would not have expected him to have a career like he has now, but I definitely thought he would be around the first team. He just excelled and is a great player.

"He was quiet and shy. We used to play in the garden with the kids or at PlayStation. He was quite normal, he had two older brothers and his mum behind him.

"Now he does a lot for the community, so he is a great professional on the pitch and a top person off it. It is incredible what he is doing."

After the Arsenal game there was no looking back for Rashford, who had scored twice on his debut for the club three days earlier, against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Weir's journey to the first team had been a slower one.