Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford popped along to Larne’s Academy of Sport on Thursday

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford with Larne FC’s head of recruitment Gerry Flynn (Image: Gerry Flynn)

Larne Football Club welcomed a very special guest to their training base on Thursday.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford popped along and met players and staff at the club’s Academy of Sport.

Rashford signed autographs and posed for photos with some of Larne’s emerging youngsters, and also met head of recruitment and big United fan Gerry Flynn.

Flynn told Belfast Live that Rashford had made the trip to Northern Ireland to visit his best pal and new Larne signing Ro-Shaun Williams.

Defender Williams grew up with the England international and started his own football career at Manchester United, spending 11 years at Old Trafford.

Flynn said: “He is best mates with Ro-Shaun. Marcus was just over seeing him.

Marcus Rashford (Image: Getty)

“He popped down to Inver Park to see Ro-Shaun and I think they were heading out for a bit of lunch. They grew up together at Manchester United and are very close.

“Marcus came in and had a look around and spent time chatting with everyone. He is such a lovely lad.

“He is very humble, just like you see in his interviews and when he is on TV. He has done a lot of community work, and helped families and kids with meals.

“He is just a really lovely and humble lad. He spoke to the young academy lads who got their autographs and selfies and all that.

“Marcus couldn’t have done any more. He was very humble.”

New Larne signing Ro-Shaun Williams (Image: Larne FC)

Williams left Manchester United in 2019 to join Shrewsbury Town, making almost 100 appearances for the League One club before signing for Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 2021.

Now he is set for the Irish League after joining Irish Premiership champions Larne, who won their fourth successive County Antrim Shield on Tuesday night.

“Ro-Shaun was at United for a long time, and they all grew up together. Marcus said he still has the same friends from when he was a kid,” Flynn added.

“He and Ro-Shaun are really good friends. Marcus came in and had a walk round and was a smashing lad.

“I am obviously a big Manchester United man so it was nice to get a photo with him.”