Moyes will help Donald really make his name
DONALD LOVE has already made his own little bit of history.
Now the Sunderland defender is determined to create a successful future.
Love, currently away in Ukraine on Scotland Under-21 duty, left Manchester United to join the Black Cats last month.
His move ended a 14-year association with the club where Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his first professional contract.
It also means there’s now no Scottish connection at Old Trafford for the first time in living memory.
The player is delighted he was able to make a minor mark on the Reds and wants to prove they were wrong to let him go.
He said: “When you drive into the training ground at United, there’s a glass panel with all the names of the academy graduates who have played in the first team. “I’m on there now. “They had it added quickly after I played my first game and it’s there forever.
“I walked past it for six years, looking at some of the great names. Just to have your name alongside them is an honour.
“All the academy kids will walk past it and see my name. I hope it’s an inspiration for them.
“Now I have to prove I could have played more at Manchester United.
“I’m not trying to prove people wrong, but I want to show I can do it in the Premier League.
“It’s the best league in the world and I want to be part of it for many years to come.”
Love was given two matches in the United top team by Louis van Gaal, against Midtjylland in the Europa League and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The ground where he made his league debut is now home.
Sunderland paid £5.5 million to recruit Love and team-mate Paddy McNair, and the 21-yearold is delighted to be reunited with Davie Moyes.
He went on: “I was in the scholarship programme when the manager was in charge at Old Trafford.
“However, I trained with the big team every now and again, so I know how he works.
“I’d say that his training in the last few weeks has probably made me into a better player already.
“He’s a hands-on manager. The only one I’ve seen get really involved in training.
“He shows you how he wants everything.
“You’ll run through a brick wall for someone who shows faith in you – and he’s shown great faith in youngsters already.
“Everyone has gone on about this season being a relegation battle for Sunderland.
“But I don’t see us getting caught up in that if we perform well.
“Hopefully, the manager will keep improving me as a player, figure out what my best position is and put me in the team.”