Bryan Robson has given his endorsement to Manchester United youngster Charlie Savage.
United legend Robson was asked which players had impressed him on the club's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Robson, speaking at the launch of United’s new away kit, singled out Savage, 19, son of Mirror Football columnist and former pro Robbie.
"I’ve been really impressed with Charlie Savage," said Robson, whose comments drew loud cheers from the three thousand-strong crowd at the kit launch. Savage has impressed in the two games on tour, playing in the second half of the wins against Liverpool in Bangkok on Tuesday and Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Friday.
Savage recently signed a three-year professional deal at Old Trafford and made his senior debut against Young Boys in the Champions League last December. Dad Robbie was working as a commentator for BT Sport and introduced his son on to the pitch.
Robbie also came through the ranks at Carrington as part of the Class of '92 alongside the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and other famous professionals but never made a first team appearance for the Red Devils.
The dynamic midfielder, now 47, made more than 300 Premier League outings during his career for Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby - winning the EFL Cup - and won 39 senior caps for Wales. Like his dad, Charlie has represented Wales at youth level.
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"It was the greatest night of my life and the greatest night of his life," wrote Robbie in his Mirror Football column after Charlie's United debut. "It was a bit emotional before the game because I was thinking about my dad and how he used to take me everywhere when I was a kid.
"My emotions were of a dad and I briefly took my BT Sport commentating hat off. I had to keep it in to try and be professional because I was the proudest father in the world."
Savage went on to write: "Most importantly, I’m now Charlie Savage’s dad, he shouldn’t be known as Robbie Savage’s son. It’s all about him and always has been."
Charlie's grandma Val was also over the moon when he made his United debut. "Charlie works so hard, is very modest and doesn’t like a fuss being made of him," she wrote in The Mirror.
"He has not had a single foot up. I would love him just as much if he was sweeping the roads outside Old Trafford as I would if he as playing inside it. But to see my boy’s hard working young lad achieve his dream gave me extreme helpings of every feeling going.
"I have watched Charlie’s match 240 times since... I wish I could explain how it feels to see your grandson succeed your son. But I can’t share it with you because even now, over a week later, too many tangled up feelings have left me in a big happy mess."
