Burnley midfielder Steven Defour remains thankful for the letter former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sent him after the Belgian broke his foot back in 2009.
Defour, then 21, had been rumoured for a move to join Ferguson at Old Trafford before suffering the serious injury, and he told The Guardian on Friday that well-wishes from the legendary manager was a highlight during a difficult period.
"I was really down because of missing out on the Champions League and I knew that a lot of clubs were following me," he told the Guardian. "I felt really, really bad.
"One day, I received a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson wishing me well. That was a surprise, because not everybody gets a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson when they are injured, but I knew from a year before that Manchester United were following me closely.
"It was still a surprise to receive the letter and I wrote one back to him to say thank you, but I've not met him to say it."
Defour is in a race for fitness ahead of Burnley's clash with United at Old Trafford on Saturday. The 28-year-old has scored one goal in seven Premier League matches this season.