High hopes for Possebon

United have high hopes for new signing Rodrigo Possebon, according to the club's Academy manager and Reserves boss Brian McClair.

The midfielder, who turns 19 next week, joined the Reds last month from Porto Alegre-based Sport Club Internacional. He has since been handed the No. 34 shirt, but is likely to spend the remainder of the campaign plying his trade with the Reserves.

He is the club's second Brazilian signing folllowing the acquisiton of Anderson from FC Porto last summer. And McClair believes Possebon has a bright future ahead of him.

"Rodrigo is a tall, elegant midfielder who fits into the idea of a modern footballer," he told the Manchester Evening News. "He has very good ability and is a box-to-box player rather than your silky tricky midfielder. He's very steady.

"Our scout in Brazil John Calvert-Toulmin, who recommended our Brazilian full-back twins Fabio and Rafael Silva, spotted Rodrigo and we've been impressed.

"His father is of Italian descent and so Rodrigo had an Italian passport. Because of that he is effectively European so all the paper work was sorted out easily.

"Rodrigo also speaks very good English which has helped him. That makes a big difference.

"He is young and has come a long way from his home to England but he has settled in very well. He's very level headed and we are pleased to have him."