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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

5 Man Utd 'legends' you forgot played for them including five minute Premier League career

Manchester United 's Legends will take on Liverpool 's Legends on Saturday as names from the past put their boots back on to reignite the rivalry.

The Red Devils have enjoyed the upper hand over the Merseysiders over the past few decades, although the tide is very much turning. Some of Old Trafford's leading lights, many of whom have won leagues, doubles and trebles, will be back in action at the weekend.

Dimitar Berbatov, who won the Golden Boot during his time in Manchester and bagged a hat-trick against the Reds, will be playing, as will Michael Carrick, Jaap Stam and Darren Fletcher. But some of those involved enjoyed brief spells with the club and may have been forgotten by some fans. We take a look at a few of the names you might not recognise.

Danny Pugh

The academy graduate only played five minutes in the red of United, coming on as a substitute in a game against Tottenham back in September 2002 - replacing Ryan Giggs. Pugh would leave as a sweetener in the deal that saw Alan Smith join from Leeds United. The versatile midfielder would spend time in England's second tier before getting back to the Premier League.

Pugh ended up joining Stoke City, with whom he earned promotion in 2008. The 39-year-old would spend four years in the top flight, before embarking on several moves that saw him finish up in League Two with Port Vale.

Ronny Johnsen

One of the unsung heroes of the 1999 treble winning side. The Norwegian would spend six years in Manchester before joining Aston Villa in 2002. The defender claimed a host of honours and has been named as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's most underrated players by the Scot himself.

Johnsen eventually made 150 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring on nine occasions. His versatility was a huge asset with the Norwegian playing in central midfield and across the defensive line. Johnsen also went on to spend a year with Newcastle before finishing up his career with Vålerenga in his homeland.

Karel Poborsky

The Czech Republic international is best known for his sensational goal in Euro 1996 at Villa Park, but also spent two seasons at Old Trafford. Poborsky won a Premier League title in his first year before United were undone by Arsenal the following season.

He made 48 appearances, scoring six times, but the rise of David Beckham meant that Poborsky found his minutes limited and he left before his second season was up, joining Benfica.

Karel Poborsky spent just under two years in Manchester (Reuters)

Frazier Campbell

Another academy star whose career in Manchester never really got going. He would make just two appearances in the Premier League for United, starting alongside Wayne Rooney in their opening day fixture at Newcastle in August 2008. Campbell would spend several periods out on loan.

The hope being that he would develop elsewhere before becoming part of the United first team. Instead, after spells at Hull City and Tottenham, he would eventually join Sunderland before continuing his top flight career with Cardiff City and Crystal Palace.

Raimond van der Gouw

The Dutch goalkeeper moved to Manchester for half a million back in 1996. At that point Peter Schmeichel was established as the club's No 1 which meant Van der Gouw was very much a back-up. Nevertheless he would play 60 times for the Red Devils, 37 of those coming in the Premier League.

One of Van der Gouw's most iconic performances came in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund in 1997, when Schmeichel pulled out shortly before kick-off and the Dutchman was called up last minute and produced an impressive display.

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