"The two certainties" - Gary Neville names 2 ex-Manchester United stars who impressed him the most in training

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has named two players who he was most impressed with in training during his time at the club.

Speaking on 'Carragher and Neville Transfer Special' on Sky Sports, Neville revealed that former Manchester United forwards Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy were the most impressive during training sessions. He said:

"The two certainties, one that I knew was Rooney, it was like not even a risk, he was absolutely unbelievable. We just had to wait for him a bit before his debut because he as injured obviously. I never thought that one was a risk."

"The other one that I didn't know but we spent a lot of money on was Van Nistelrooy. The first time in training during a shooting session and he hit one, and we were like wow you can't kick a ball like that, you know when someone finishes in training and you think, that's a proper player that. He's the one I didn't know and looked at straight away and said unbelievable."

Rooney left Manchester United in 2017 to rejoin his boyhood club Everton. He then had a short stint in the MLS with D.C. United after which he returned to England to join Championship side Derby County, a club which he is now managing.

Van Nistelrooy left the club in 2006 to join Real Madrid. After four successful years in Spain, the striker left the club and joined Hamburg, but then returned to La Liga a season later to join Malaga in 2011, where he ended his career. The Dutchman is now the coach of the PSV Einhoven u-19 team and the assistant manager of the Netherlands national team.

Rooney and Van Nistelrooy are two of Manchester United's greatest strikers of all time

Rooney and Van Nistelrooy in action

Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy were both prolific strikers during their time at Manchester United.

Rooney made 559 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils, registering 253 goals and 146 assists along the way. The Englishman is the club's all-time top scorer and has won five Premier League titles, one Champions League title and one FA Cup during his time with the club.

Van Nistelrooy, on the other hand, spent only five seasons as a Red Devil during which he contributed 150 goals and 21 assists in 219 appearances across all competitions. During this time, the Dutchman won one Premier League title and one FA Cup.