10 forgotten Manchester United players from the Premier League era

Manchester United have not lifted the Premier League trophy since 2013 but are still the most successful team since the English top flight was rebranded in 1992.

The Red Devils won 13 league titles under Sir Alex Ferguson, including three on the bounce between 2006 and 2008.

And with such success comes the unavoidable fact that not every United footballer in the Premier League era is heralded as a hero by supporters.

We look at 10 players you may have forgotten ever represented the Red Devils.

Jordi Cruyff (1996-2000)

Ferguson signed Jordi Cruyff, son of footballing legend Johan Cruyff, from Barcelona for £1.4million.

But his spell at Old Trafford was marred by injuries that restricted him to just 58 appearances in all competitions.

Danny Higginbotham (1997-2000)

Danny Higginbotham came through United's youth system and made four Premier League appearances before being sold to Derby.

The defender spent the Red Devils' Treble-winning 1998-99 season on loan at Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

Phil Bardsley (2003-2008)

Like Higginbotham, Phil Bardsley progressed through United's academy ranks but failed to make the grade at senior level.

He was loaned out to Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United before joining Sunderland on a permanent deal.

Giuseppe Rossi (2004-2007)

Giuseppe Rossi evolved into a top-quality striker at Fiorentina and Villarreal, scoring 82 goals for the latter.

But he less memorably began his career in England after joining United from Parma in 2004, with the ex-Italy international netting four times in 14 senior appearances for the Red Devils.

Gerard Pique (2004-2008)

Before returning to boyhood club Barcelona and winning 30 major honours, Gerard Pique learnt some tricks of the trade at Old Trafford. 

Signed at 17, the Spaniard registered 23 appearances and impressively scored two goals in four Champions League outings.

Fraizer Campbell (2006-2009)

Fraizer Campbell's attempts to break into United's attack came at a time when Ferguson had the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez to pick from.

Four appearances totalling just 182 minutes of action highlights the fierce competition he encountered during his stint at the Theatre of Dreams.

Danny Simpson (2006-2010)

Danny Simpson was another United academy graduate who saw chances at the top level heavily restricted.

Unable to usurp Gary Neville at right-back, he joined Newcastle and then went on to play a key role in Leicester's miracle Premier League title win in 2015-16.

Zoran Tosic (2009-2010)

A tricky winger who excelled with Partizan Belgrade, CSKA Moscow and Serbia, Zoran Tosic barely got a sniff under Ferguson's rule.

He tallied just 79 minutes of action from five appearances and spent the second half of the 2009-10 campaign on loan at FC Cologne.

Joshua King (2009-2013)

Joshua King joined United at the age of 16. But despite impressing in the youth sides, he made just two senior appearances before joining Blackburn in 2013.

The 62-cap Norway international, now at Fenerbahce, scored four goals against his former employers during a successful six-year spell at Bournemouth.

Victor Valdes (2014-2016)

One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Barcelona icon Victor Valdes could not displace David de Gea at United.

A disappointing spell comprised of just two Premier League appearances and the stopper retired in January 2018 following a year at Middlesbrough.