“I waited outside the Manchester United dressing room like a kid.”

As United face Newcastle today there are a few players that will be especially fired up.

Danny Simpson and Gabriel Obertan may both feel they have something to prove against their former club with Obertan speaking up how hard a game he will be giving Patrice Evra.

But there is someone else who will be looking to give a good account of themselves.

As last season drew to a close United rolled into St James Park looking to raise moral after a loss to Man City in the FA Cup as well as take 3 points. United huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow St James Park down as Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were all turned away.

The gatekeeper that day, Tim Krul, and the Dutch keeper will be planning on putting on an equally impressive display today.

Manchester United hold a special something for 23 year old Krul.

Born from a relationship with our former keeper Edwin van der Sar, Krul sees United as the ultimate test of his ability and recalls how Edwin helped make him the keeper he is now:

“It’s been great to have that support and help.

“I was waiting outside the Manchester United dressing room like a kid for his shirt.

“He took me to one side and talked to me for 20 minutes. He told me to go out on loan, do things wrong, make mistakes and learn from all of them. If I need anything he is always there on the phone, he helps and he advises me. He has been a big influence.

“Not everyone would do it. Not everyone would talk to a kid asking for his top. Not everyone would be willing to pass on their experience and help someone else grow.

“It’s a special thing because he has been a role model all my life. I’d love to follow in his footsteps. Edwin played 130 times for his country and that’s not easy to emulate, but I’d like to become Dutch No 1. It is about taking little steps so that one day I can say I did enough to achieve some of the things he has.”

Edwin has long been considered one of football’s gentlemen and has often popped up with words of encouragement for our own David De Gea. Edwin helping Krul further cements the idea that he is genuinely one of football’s nice guys.