(Manchester United News)
Paddy McNair is eager to return to Manchester United first-team action after making his Northern Ireland debut during the international break.
The 19-year-old defender earned his first senior cap in a 1-0 friendly defeat away to Scotland and now hopes to feature as often as possible in the Reds' final eight games.
McNair's last appearance in Louis van Gaal’s line-up came in February’s away defeat at Swansea. Prior to his Northern Ireland call-up, he played and scored in United Under-21s' win at Everton, and was grateful to get 90 minutes of action alongside some familiar faces. "I've got loads of friends in the Under-21s," McNair told MUTV. "They are doing really well and it was good to get some match fitness with them.”
The defender acknowledged that competition for places in an almost fully-fit back-line is fierce and stressed he is working hard in training to figure in van Gaal’s plans. "Every day I'm coming in and trying to and impress the manager and all his staff. Hopefully I can get as many games as I can towards the end of the season. I'm training with world class players every day - that's only going to make me better."
McNair echoed captain Wayne Rooney’s sentiments by saying that only a win on Saturday will add true value to United's 2-1 victory at Anfield. “If we drop points to Aston Villa then the win against Liverpool won’t be worth all that much."
