Pereira desperate to impress United boss Mourinho

With David de Gea and Sergio Romero ahead of him in the pecking order, Manchester United youngster Joel Pereira knows he has a fight on his hands for the gloves at Old Trafford but believes he is in the perfect environment to flourish this season.

The goalkeeper has recently returned from a loan spell at Portuguese club Belenenses to be United’s third-choice for the remainder of the season and he was on the bench for their FA Cup clash with Reading earlier this month.

The 20-year-old initially joined the club four years ago from Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax, and he has become one of the most talked about young goalkeepers across Europe.

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And Pereira hopes to kick on now he is back in England and impress countryman Jose Mourinho as he seeks first-team opportunities.

“Jose Mourinho is an incredible manager,” Pereira said. “He’s won everything and it is amazing to train under him. I’ve always loved him as a coach and also, of course, because he’s Portuguese.

“He has done a lot for Portuguese football and I think that all of Portugal is proud of him.

“It’s good to be considered a first-team player now and I’m training every day with the first team and in the changing room with them. I think it’s very good for me and my development too.

“I get to work with world-class players as well. We have amazing strikers who are very good finishers so, of course, it is very good for me and I learn a lot every day.”