George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham – four of the greatest names in the game, all reared within Manchester United's fabled youth set-up and now helping to inspire the next generation coming off this prolific production line.

The quartet are among the famous names pictured along the corridors that link the changing rooms at the club's academy building at the Aon Training Complex, where the past is helping to motivate the future at a club built on homegrown talent.

Remarkably, United have had a youth graduate in their squad for 3,987 straight matches and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward recently underlined to staff how giving youth a chance was among their "core three football objectives".

United are focused, Cox says, on being "the world-leading environment for young people to want to hang out in", giving players the chance to see new places, gain education and on-field skills.

He believes "if you create great people the footballer follows", which also allows the individuals to achieve success in life outside of the game.

"As of yet, I've never heard anyone say they wish they wouldn't have signed," Butt added. "No matter how it ends."

There is excitement right now about some of the prospects coming through the system, although there is an acceptance that everyone needs to remain grounded and the young players supported when there are setbacks.

But given the work being done, there should be some new faces plastered on United's corridors of success soon enough.