Soccer: Greening to leave United

Jonathan Greening’s Manchester United career appears over after he asked for a transfer because of his lack of first-team opportunities.

Greening is frustrated he has been unable to win a regular place in the United senior squad three years after arriving at Old Trafford in a £1m move from York.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who is on international duty with England Under-21s, made a rare start against Leicester on Saturday only to be substituted at half-time.

United’s director of communications Paddy Harverson said: "He has asked for a transfer because he wants regular first-team football."

It is highly unlikely Greening will leave United before the end of the season, with the transfer deadline just hours away.

It is more probable he will leave in the summer and his departure will strengthen Luke Chadwick’s claims to be David Beckham’s understudy.