Only a few months ago, Lee Grant was on the bench as Stoke headed for relegation from the Premier League. On Wednesday, aged 35, he is set to play for Manchester United against European champions Real Madrid.
Grant is under no illusions about the reason for his £1.5million transfer to Old Trafford. He has been signed as third-choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero, as Joel Pereira gets first-team experience out on loan.
It still came as quite a surprise when Jose Mourinho made his move after Grant played just five games for Stoke last season.
De Gea's late arrival on tour and the injury that ruled Romero out of the World Cup mean that Grant and Pereira have shared the goalkeeping duties on tour in America.
They were due to play one half each against Liverpool in front of 100,000 fans in Michigan in the early hours of this morning and could do again when United meet Real in their final tour game in Miami.
Grant knows his place in the spotlight will be shortlived.
'I'm old enough and ugly enough to understand the role I'm coming in to do,' he said.
'I'm at a football club that has the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and Argentina's No 1 goalkeeper on the books. I know what I have to contend with. I'm also certain I can offer something to the football club.'
Even so, the boyhood United fan's journey via Derby, Burnley, Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday to Old Trafford is something of a dream come true.
'You can't describe it in any other way,' Grant said.
'I got a phone call and was asked if it was something I would be interested in. If it's Man United, the answer is pretty short and sweet.'
depaciptyz
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vomabcknt
0
yubcenty
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I love you Lee grant 😂😂😂😂😂😂
tatbknopt
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man u news
Shafi-sha
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Lee grant 😘,,, he gonna shine with us,, even it’s limited time ( as a third GK)
asakila
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Kinda of liking you. Like you for your humility and you gonna shine
yowellster21
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Yeah a warm bench
forzacmilanspursmanu
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forzacmilanspursmanu
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So far he looks very good in the preseason and is a good back up as 3rd choice keeper
it wud be good for you if you knew why / how he has done quite well .
Australia8557406
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Derby!!!!
kuocpryz
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ye another seat on joses BIG BUS!!!!!
Fecbcdemnr
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that is pure lie demebele didn't play the amount of matches martial played but yet dembele was chosen martial is so full of himself and he is not always connecting that's what makes coaches angry with him .
Martial is a confidence player. He needs regular football and a coach who believes in him and will help him develop. Mourinho doesn't seem to offer him that, that's why he had a terrible 2nd half to the season after Sanchez arrived, and that's why he didn't make world cup squad. Don't know too much about Dembele but he looks like he's easier to manage and gives his all regardless so that's why he made the squad.
Udeh Nzube
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Martial missed out on a world Cup medal because he wasn't playing regularly. I want him to stay but can't blame him for wanting regular first team football.
that is pure lie demebele didn't play the amount of matches martial played but yet dembele was chosen martial is so full of himself and he is not always connecting that's what makes coaches angry with him .
Fecbcdemnr
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martial in fact leave atleast we have youngsters that are willing to prove themselves #pereira so fuck off
Martial missed out on a world Cup medal because he wasn't playing regularly. I want him to stay but can't blame him for wanting regular first team football.
TonyV25
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So far he looks very good in the preseason and is a good back up as 3rd choice keeper
zogemsitlhou
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martial in fact leave atleast we have youngsters that are willing to prove themselves #pereira so fuck off
The article is talking about joel perreira who will go out on loan. Not andreas perreira
Udayamurthi
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pereira is a good player
Udeh Nzube
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martial in fact leave atleast we have youngsters that are willing to prove themselves #pereira so fuck off