IT’S A TUNNI OLD GAME

Ryan: I used to be Pog’s minder and help him settle when he first came to United.. but tonight I’ve got to UNSETTLE him

RYAN TUNNICLIFFE plans to give Paul Pogba a blast from the past tonight as he locks horns with his former team-mate.

France World Cup winner Pogba recently claimed the Luton Town midfielder helped him settle when the pair played together in Manchester United’s youth team.

But Tunnicliffe (with Pogba, below) is out to stop him as the Hatters bid to cause a cup upset. The 27-year-old said: “Everyone can see he is world class. I have played alongside him quite a few times. es. But to play against him would uld be quite fun.

“To win the World d

Cup is something you u dream of as a kid so for that to happen to him was amazing.

“When he first came he was a good d lad. He was loud but I had been there a while hile so I just did anything hing I could do to help him. You could see how good a player he was. I knew he would be my midfield partner so we tried to have a relationship off the field and it was nice of him to say what he did about me.

“If he thinks I helped him, I’m happy as he has gone on to do great things.

“He’s bigger and stronger than he was. I have an idea what I’m up against. But it is up to me to stop him. I don’t really have a point to prove. But I was there a long time so it’s a big one for me.”

Boyhood fan Tunnicliffe, who joined

United at nine, won the young player of the year award in 2011 but left for Fulham after playing only two first-team games.

He once won his dad a £10,000 bet during his time at Old Trafford and also worked for a year under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then the club’s reserve team coach.

Tunniclif fe (in action , below) said: “Dad put a bet on when I was nine for me to pla play a competitive first-team game for United and when I played against Newcastle he cashed in.

“He probably s spent the winnings i in the pub celebrati ing! He’s a City fan so i it was bittersweet for h him. I don’t think h he’ll bet on this one.”