Rothwell excited for United reunion

The 27-year-old joined Manchester United’s academy as a six-year-old, spending 15 years at the club alongside Cherries teammate Ben Pearson.

Speaking to the Bournemouth Echo ahead of tonight's game, he admitted he’s excited to head back: “It will be nice, it’s the first time I’ve been back since I left.

“Obviously, we’re going there and I want to win the game, there will be no doubt about that, and hopefully we can upset the odds and get something.”

Rothwell acknowledges there could be some split allegiances in the crowd, with a number of friends and family having to choose between him and United.

He said: “I imagine there will be a few [cheering for Manchester United], and there’ll be a few who are cheering for me!

“It will be nice to go back but we’re going there to do a job. You want to play every game but going back to an old team, it’s probably the place where I grew up, you will have a point to prove.

“I’m not looking at it like that, you want to play in every game and I’m no different.”

The Cherries man worked under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in his time at Old Trafford and, in an interview earlier this season, said that the Scot had an influence all across the club.

He reminisced: “He knew every single person’s name from top to bottom.

“Whether it be security, the laundry ladies, and it was no different with the academy lads.

“He knew every single person by their first name and if he ever saw you, he would always stop and have a chat with you.

“Luckily enough, I had a few good chats with him and he was always really encouraging. He was just a great guy.”

When reflecting on the greatest piece of advice he’d received from Ferguson, he said: “To keep enjoying it.

“Keep doing what you are doing and if you don’t enjoy it, then it’s obviously not the right job for you.

“That’s always kind of stuck in my mind.”

Hopefully Rothwell will enjoy his return.