World Cup 2018: Gary Neville shares incredible pictures of Manchester United’s visit to Moscow in 1992
Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Nicky Butt were all fresh-faced youngsters who were yet to make the breakthrough at Old Trafford - but Sir Alex Ferguson still flew them out to Russia for a Uefa Cup tie against Torpedo Moscow
GARY NEVILLE might be the voice behind the microphone for ITV's World Cup coverage - but it was a trip to Moscow 26 years ago that helped him find his voice.
The 43-year-old has been hanging around the Russian capital for the tournament with brother Phil and Ryan Giggs as part of the TV channel's coverage.
And he has shared incredible pictures of himself, Giggs, David Beckham and Nicky Butt in the city at the start of the 1992-93 season as Manchester United took on Torpedo Moscow.
A brilliant picture of Giggs wearing a Russian soldier's hat on the trip was paired with one of the Wales manager today, with a greying beard and baseball cap on.
But it was Sir Alex Ferguson's side that got Torpedoed from Europe on that trip, as Mark Hughes was sent off and United were knocked out on penalties after two 0-0 draws over both legs.
Neville had come on in the first leg at Old Trafford, but was spared playing at Torpedo Stadium as Steve Bruce, Brian McClair and Gary Pallister missed spot-kicks.
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Back then, Butt, Neville, Becks and Giggs were all fresh off their FA Youth Cup triumph the previous May and the young Welshman had already been part of the first-team set-up having made his debut in 1991.
Ferguson was keen to have them around the first-team fold though and trips like this would become commonplace for the stars later in their career.
This experience would prove a crucial small step on the path to greatness.
Beckham would not make his debut until the 1994-95 season and was then sent on loan to Preston.
While Nicky Butt would come on as a sub for United in their 3-0 win over Oldham a couple of months later.
Most of the team did not get a first-team break until the following couple of seasons though and by 1995-96, Ferguson had jettisoned the old guard and brought in Neville, Butt, Beckham and Paul Scholes permanently alongside the already ever-present Giggs.
Minus Beckham and Butt, the players would go on to lift the European Cup in the city 16 years later as Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney proved to be the next generation of young United stars.
Neville was an unused substitute that day due to injury