York City teenager Christian Fox is hoping some world class pedigree will have rubbed his way after mixing it with Manchester United's finest.

The highly-rated midfielder described Saturday's pre-season friendly, which pitted him against the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, as an unforgettable footballing lesson.

"It was a brilliant experience to play against the likes of Beckham, Scholes and Keane," he said.

"You cannot even get close to them. You can see what they are thinking but they have at least three options and so they just pass it around you."

He said the desire of the champions to win, even against relative minnows like York City, was an important factor in their unmitigated success of recent years. "They still want to win and do really well no matter where they play," said Fox.

Despite the defeat, the 19-year-old admitted he was relishing the new role offered to him by City's three-man midfield.

"The gaffer has said that me and Kevin Hulme or Lee Bullock, who ever plays, can push on with Steve Agnew just sitting in there.

"With Aggers sitting in we can join the attackers. It was obviously going to be difficult against a team like Manchester United but we are going into the season with a good atmosphere in the dressing room and we really want to do well."

York City intermediates are in action tonight when travel to they take on York and District Leeper Hare League premier division champions Boroughbridge, kick-off 7pm.