Tom Cleverley is a highly-rated young midfielder who appreciates that the time has come to pin down a place in the starting line-up.

His clever approach play was a feature of United's exciting start to the 2011/2012 campaign but a serious foot injury sustained at Bolton kept him out until October and a further setback sidelined him until February. Although becoming an option during the run-in, it is anticipated that involvement at the Olympics will push his fitness back up to peak level.

The Basingstoke-born youngster, who has also been in the England squad without being capped, rose through the club's youth system to

become interim Reserves captain, and was nominated for the prestigious Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award, alongside Sam Hewson and Richard Eckersley during 2007/08.

Following a late call-up to join the squad in South Africa during the 2008 pre-season campaign, Cleverley marked his non-competitive debut with a goal as United claimed victory in the Vodacom Challenge final. Just a few weeks later, he was handed the No.35 shirt in the senior squad.

The midfielder was named on the bench for United's League Cup matches against Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers at the start of the 2008/09 season, before joining League One outfit Leicester City on