No kidding: Mike Phelan lives the dream in frenzied Old Trafford return | Ed Aarons

Alex Ferguson’s old assistant re-signed shortly after touching down from Australia and holding court in a local college

They say 24 hours is a long time in football but, even with his vast experience in the game, Mike Phelan must still be pinching himself about Tuesday’s turn of events. Back in his home town as he took a break from sporting director duties at the Australian side Central Coast Mariners, the 56-year-old fulfilled his invitation to take a coaching session at Burnley College before answering questions from students about his experiences as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United.

“One of the students asked him what his dream job would be and he said it would be to be coaching in front of 70,000 people again, so whether he had already had that conversation I don’t know,” says Ash Aldersen, Burnley College’s academy of sport and elite athlete manager. “But it’s a dream come true for him today. He said he’d come back from Australia just for Christmas so I suppose he’s had an early present returning to United.”

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