Whites manager McAllister – aiming to take United back to the second tier after League One play-off final disappointment at Wembley last term – was a member of the famous side who won the old first division title in 1991-92 under Wilkinson.

And Wilkinson is not surprised the Scot – whose United troops return to pre-season training at Thorp Arch today – decided to chance his arm in management, with his credentials there to see right from his playing career.

On the merits of McAllister, Wilkinson, the last Englishman to win the top-flight championship silverware, said: "He always was a genuine fan who just loved the game. So in many respects, he was the sort of person, who if you look at ex-players possibly going into management, fitted the profile.

"You have got to genuinely love football and he did. He would go and watch football matches even when he wasn't involved – I know some players who wouldn't go down to the bottom of their garden to watch a match if they weren't playing!

"But Gary was a student of the game."

League Managers Association chairman Wilkinson – who managed United from October 1988 to September 1996 – added: "Gary's quietly spoken, but management comes in many forms and many styles.

"You have to be yourself and players have to recognise sincerity and knowledge – and with that comes respect. If you start to rant and rave and you're not a ranter and a raver, it's pointless trying to do that."