Sixteen year-old Joe, from Meenlaragh, Gortahork, made his United debut on Monday, in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup. He played in the 4-0 victory over Tyrone and he was due back between the post for his second outing in his new club colours again yesterday afternoon against Down.

"It went well for him. He did not have an awful lot to do and anything he had too he did well and overall he was pleased with the way it went. It was a big day and big occasion for him alright," his father Tom told the Democrat.

He did not feature in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Qatar which knocked United - who were chasing a third Milk Cup in a row - out of the competition. Yesterday's game against Down was in the Slemish Cup.

"He has settled in very well and is really enjoying it and has taken to his new life very well and it was great for him this week to get his first game," added Tom Coll.

Joe joined the club on a three year contact in a blaze of publicity last March and moved to Manchester earlier this month and began pre-season training and his new career with the famous football nursery.

Meanwhile, many of Joe's former team the Donegal Schoolboys, with many of his former team mates were due to play another English Premiership giants Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final of the Milk Cup last night at the Limavady Showgrounds.