Hull star Matt Crooks set for Premier League debut against boyhood club Man United 18 years after heart-breaking release

MATT CROOKS remembers arriving at Carrington as an eight-year-old kid — and crossing paths with Rio Ferdinand the day he signed for Manchester United. Six years later the lifelong fan was in tears after being axed by the Red Devils. Matt Crooks celebrates with Hull’s Wembley hero Oli McBurnie after he clinched promotion to the Premier League with late winner Credit: Reuters Matt Crooks celebrates with Hull fans after their Wembley triumph Credit: Getty Now, after rebuilding his career from the depths of non-league, the Hull star is ready to face his childhood club as he made his Premier League debut aged 32.. The Tigers host United at the MKM Stadium on Saturday in their first top-flight game for nine years after winning the Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough in May. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! And for Crooks, walking out against United completes a wild 18-year journey. The midfielder told SunSport: “I went to Carrington to pick up some boots and kit and it just happened to be the day Rio Ferdinand was signing for United from Leeds. “He was walking down the steps in a white suit. My dad and grandad — who are both massive United fans — were there with me and it was a pretty surreal moment. “That’s one of the main memories that sticks with me. “I joined United when I was an eight and got released at 14. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. There were loads of great people and fantastic opportunities. “Looking back, you probably don’t realise at the time just how lucky you are, the things you get to experience, and the chances you’re given.” Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Being shown the door by the Premier League giants as a youngster proved to be a crushing blow. Crooks was forced to rebuild his life and career, dropping into non-league on loan at Halifax Town and Radcliffe Borough before embarking on an extensive EFL journey with Hartlepool, Scunthorpe, Northampton, Rotherham and Middlesbrough. He even sampled football with Rangers in Scotland and Real Salt Lake in MLS before helping Hull seal their top-flight return. Crooks added: “I remember crying when they told me they were letting me go. “I went to the Trafford Centre with my dad afterwards for some food. And he was saying, ‘Listen, what do you want? Do you want to work even harder or do you want to call it a day?’ “I think my dad embedded that in me. I’m lucky to have good support around me family-wise. “I always said I probably wasn’t good enough technically on the ball, so I had to go elsewhere. It’s part and parcel of academy football and the system that’s been created within that. “It was the first time I had a fork in the road. I had to decide if I’d carry on playing football or just give up. Matt Crooks celebrates scoring at Old Trafford for Middlesbrough who went on to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup in 2022 Credit: Getty It is a dream come true for Matt Crooks to finally get a crack at the Premier League aged 32 Credit: Alamy “That was the time I learned about myself a little bit and had the confidence to go again, start afresh and try to prove some people wrong. Rejection definitely shapes you.” This will not be the first time Crooks has targeted an upset against his boyhood club. Four years ago, while with Boro, he scored an equaliser at Old Trafford in an FA Cup fourth-round tie before his side stunned United 8-7 on penalties. Crooks said: “To go to Old Trafford and play against them was surreal. “For a certain point in your career, you wonder if you’re ever going to be capable of stepping foot on a Premier League pitch. “We knocked them out and to have my family and friends in the crowd was so cool, so special. “This weekend will be a huge challenge. The quality in their squad is ridiculously high — the speed, the athleticism, every single player is a powerful, big guy. “You have to look at yourself as a group and realise we’ve earned the right to be here. You aren’t put in this position if you aren’t good enough. “So to make my debut against Man United, it’s going to be a really proud moment.” Hull have splashed the cash in an ambitious transfer window, headlined by big-money moves for centre-back Nobel Mendy (Rayo Vallecano, £20m), keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis (Olympiacos, £20m) and centre-back Lucas Herrington (Colorado, £12.7m). The recruitment spree continues right across the pitch, with central midfielders Jens Hjertø-Dahl (Tromsø IL) and Hidemasa Morita (Sporting) arriving alongside defensive midfielders Lucas Gourna-Douath (Salzburg) and Óscar Zambrano (NK Maribor). They have also strengthened in attack with centre-forward Joe Gelhardt (Leeds) and left midfielder Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF), while adding further defensive depth in left-back Matt Targett (Newcastle) and keeper Jack Butland (Rangers). Hull secured their top-flight return in breathless fashion at Wembley with Ollie McBurnie netting a late winner. And Crooks admits the dressing room is buzzing off the energy brought in by their new-look squad under manager Sergej Jakirovic. Crooks said: “Wembley was a complete blur. Ollie scoring that late winner and the scenes that followed, the celebrations… it was brilliant. “We’ve brought in some top lads and everyone has been chumming together already. “We’ve got five or six guys in competitive positions now, so hopefully that drives up the quality and helps us in that regard with strength in the dressing room. “The gaffer deserves massive credit for the job he’s done. He’s jovial, funny, always having a laugh, but when it’s time to be serious, he’s the gaffer. “He is very direct — there’s no b***s*** with him. “The manager has huge ambition and the message to us for this campaign has been crystal clear. “The chairman travels 18 hours to watch us, so we don’t want to be distracted. “We haven’t come up with a mindset just to survive or be distracted by the naysayers. We want to keep pushing, be successful, and show everyone we belong here.” Comment now