Man Utd re-sign former star in shock free transfer 21 years after he left the club
MANCHESTER UNITED have signed former academy player Tommy Rowe.
The midfielder has joined in a player-coach capacity in a role previously held by Tom Huddlestone and Paul McShane.
Rowe, 35, played for Doncaster in League Two last season, scoring four goals in 36 games.
He haS 650 career appearances to his name for the likes of Peterborough, Bristol City and Stockport, having left Old Trafford in 2003 when he was released as a youngster.
Fast forward 21 years and Rowe has returned to the club where he could feature for the Under-21s side.
However he will work primarily as a coach with United saying he “will create various unique development opportunities for United’s Academy players by coaching from within training sessions and driving daily standards on and off the pitch”.
Rowe could feature in the EFL trophy – just as Huddlestone did last season.
The competition allows five over-age players to feature, as does Premier League 2.
Huddlestone fulfilled the same player-coach role and made 24 appearances for the U21s before leaving this summer.
United have been drawn in the same EFL Trophy group as one of Rowe’s former clubs, Doncaster, as well as Huddersfield and Barnsley.
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And they got their campaign off to the best possible start with a 3-2 win over Barnsley.
The Red Devils have won two of their opening three games in Premier League 2, having finished 12th in the league last term.