Neville annoyed by 'squad player' tag
Phil Neville is desperate to shed his squad-player tag at Manchester United - or else he may be forced to quit Old Trafford.
Neville admits he is annoyed at being labelled a squad player and he is determined to change that by becoming a regular in the United defence.
At 25 he knows he cannot wait much longer and if his first-team prospects do not improve, he admits there may come a time when he may have to leave the club he loves.
‘‘The new season is a big one for me,’’ said the versatile defender. ‘‘I desperately want to play week in week out for United and that’s my biggest challenge.
‘‘I do play around 30 matches a season. I do play a lot, but I want to play more. I’m ambitious. I don’t want to be a utility player. I don’t want to be just a squad player.
‘‘I think that’s how people view me and it does get on my nerves a little bit.
‘‘I’m 25 now and coming to an age where I ought to be stamping my authority on games and seasons and that means playing 40 to 50 games consistently well.
‘‘There’s no way I want to leave Old Trafford, but I know I’m getting to the point where if it doesn’t happen for me then I’ll have to look at the situation.
‘‘I’m not saying if I don’t do well this year then I’m leaving, but I know I’m at a time in my life where I have to make my mark.
‘‘If you just accept 25 to 30 games a season you’re settling for second best. I want to play 40 to 50 like Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Gary.
‘‘That’s what I’m aiming for. I’m not aiming low, I’m aiming high.’’
Neville, who missed out on the World Cup with England, concedes that manager Sir Alex Ferguson may view him as just a squad player.
He hopes to change that perception and he takes heart from the way Nicky Butt forced his way into the side during the second half of last season and starred for England at the World Cup.
‘‘I have to make a mark on the manager as well,’’ he said in the Manchester Evening News.
‘‘Maybe he also looks at me as a squad player who doesn’t let anyone down, I don’t know.
‘‘I need to prove to him that I have improved and make sure he can see a difference so he may sit up and take notice.
‘‘Over the years Nicky Butt and I have been in similar situations in that we played in around 30 games a term, but missed out on a lot of the bigger occasions.
‘‘But Nicky has taken his chance with England this summer and with United last season.
‘‘If given the same chance, I feel I could prove myself. Knowing that it can be done is a spur as long as you’re given a chance.’’
