Former Manchester United wonderkid Paddy McNair is on course for an emotional reunion with the Red Devils next season after helping Hull City secure promotion to the Premier League. The Tigers clinched their top-flight return with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
A Full-Circle Moment
The 30-year-old centre-back, who came through the ranks at Old Trafford, will now face his former club in the Premier League. McNair made 27 first-team appearances for United and was highly rated by then-manager Louis van Gaal, who tipped him for a long-term future at the club.
Van Gaal said at the time: "Maybe he shall be the right full-back of Manchester United for the next ten years, you never know. He has the chance. He has done it already in the second-team and has done it now at a higher level in the first-team."
Despite the Dutchman's prediction, McNair's United career did not pan out as expected. He departed for Sunderland in 2016 after a conversation with Jose Mourinho, who wanted to send him out on loan. McNair insisted on a permanent move, saying: "I was adamant I wanted to go on a permanent move. I spoke to Mourinho for a couple of weeks and basically persuaded him to let me go on a permanent deal."
Journey to Hull
After Sunderland, McNair joined Middlesbrough, where he made 219 appearances before a brief stint in the MLS with San Diego FC. He returned to England on loan at West Bromwich Albion before signing for Hull City in the January transfer window on an 18-month contract. He has made 15 appearances for the Tigers so far and will hope to feature prominently next season, including the trip to Old Trafford.
