Tom Huddlestone opens up on hardest part of player-coach role at Man Utd

Manchester United player-coach Tom Huddlestone has shed light on the biggest challenges he has faced in his new role at Old Trafford.

The midfielder, who won four senior caps for England earlier in his career, joined the Premier League club over the summer after leaving Hull City. He has featured as an over-age player for United's Under-21s, playing in Premier League 2 and making the squad for a Papa John's Trophy game at Carlisle, while also coaching the academy stars.

He is not the first player to take up such a role, with Paul McShane previously serving as a player-coach for United before his retirement. And Huddlestone, who turns 36 in December, has opened up about the task at hand and his relationship with players and coaching staff in his new surroundings.

"I train 90 per cent of the time with the players," Huddlestone told Soccer AM. "Beforehand I'm planning the session with the coaches and if there's sessions in four segments I'll take one of them as a coach.

"Say one of the coaches takes the passing drill initially, I'll take the possession and then we'll finish with games," he added. On the specific role, meanwhile, he noted that "Paul McShane did it last year, Jay Spearing is doing it at Liverpool and there's a lad at Southampton [Olly Lancashire]."

Huddlestone was asked about the extent to which he coaches players while out with them on the pitch in competitive situations. And the veteran, who made more than 200 Premier League appearances for Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City, admitted the on-pitch situations have provided his toughest challenge.

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"When you're a seasoned pro you're expected to give a bit of information, so it's similar to that," he explained. "The hardest part, mindset wise, is, during training and matches, remembering that you're not fighting to stay in the team. You want to do as well as you can but equally you know your main job is to develop and help the players around you."

"Because it's younger players and, there is 15 years age discrepancy, [the response from players is] not too bad. I think if it was player coaching a first team environment that would be more difficult. The lads might be slightly too young to remember me at my peak, I guess.

"It's about re-proving yourself in training so they know they can listen to you, so they know you've still got a bit. But equally you're trying to develop them to have professional careers."

Huddlestone has had advice from others with the relevant expertise, including predecessor McShane. And first-team manager Erik ten Hag - who has called up a number of under-21 stars to train or play with the senior talents - has also had conversations with those working alongside the player-coach.

"First week, the first team were away so there was no eyes on you, pressure like that," Huddlestone continued. "It's a big old building so I was saying to Macca (Paul McShane) 'I'm just going to shadow you for the first week and get my bearings'.

"But the five or six coaches I'm working with, they're top notch and really helpful. From going from the playing side to a hybrid role they've been helpful throughout."

"I think [Ten Hag has] had meetings with the staff prior to me getting there. Sort of set out his blueprint, four of five fundamentals in and out of possession.

"The 21s and the 18s are trying to implement them ideas alongside their own. So I think that will be the longer process going forward. Definitely with the U21s, is to play in a similar mould to the first team."

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