LEE Roche achieved a lifetime's ambition earlier this season when he made his league debut for his beloved Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old Bolton lad has been on the books at Old Trafford for over a decade but has had to be patient in fulfilling his goal at the so-called Theatre of Dreams.

The defender came on as a substitute for Laurent Blanc in the 69th minute of the 5-3 win over Newcastle United, but facing Sir Bobby Robson's Toon Army meant an immediate baptism of fire.

He said: "It was amazing to get on the pitch, but all of a sudden I had the task of marking Alan Shearer.

"He is the best player I have ever come up against, but you have to just concentrate and raise your game to combat the threat. I think I did quite well.

"The atmosphere was brilliant. When you get a little taste of that you want it every week, and it makes you want to work as hard as you can every day at training to get it again.

"I had played in the Worthington Cup at Arsenal the year before, but to play in the league at a full Old Trafford in front of all those people was immense."

Lee still lives at home with his parents in Worsley, although he was born and bred a United fan in his native Little Lever.

He was first spotted by United scouts when he was playing for the Bury inter league side as a 10 year old.

He then went to the School of Excellence but by the time he was due to sign on as a YTS player at 16, there were a host of other clubs interested in him - including home team Wanderers.

He recalls: "Bolton did try to get me on apprentice terms and I seriously thought about it because the idea of moving to a smaller club might have meant greater opportunities.

"But the main thing for me was that United are such a big club and have the best coaches and facilities. They also have such a great track record for bringing players through.

"Altogether I felt it would be the best way for me to improve, but it was also great because I have always been a United fan.

"I then signed professional forms for United when I turned 18, I was very worried about whether I would be kept on or not but one day I was told I had to go and see the gaffer.

"He offered me a written contract and I just agreed there and then. I wasn't bothered about the money because I just wanted to be a professional at Manchester United.

"It was such a massive relief and my family were proud."

Whether he made the right decision or not is a question which Lee refuses to dwell upon too much, as he says: "There are a lot of what ifs in football."

But the statistics show he has made just two first team appearances in his United career, and with his contract up in the summer this could be a make or break period in his fledgling career.

He was loaned out to Wrexham a couple of years back, but even a full season of league experience did not help his first team cause when he returned to United.

Lee, however, refuses to look at the negatives, although he admits that there have been difficult times including the arrival of international defenders Rio Ferdinand and Laurent Blanc over the last couple of years.

He said: "It has been very frustrating. It does not help that there are so many good players, breaking into the first team at most clubs is tough but at United it seems twice as hard.

"The players we have got are all internationals and unless there are a lot of injuries at once it will be very hard to get games. You have to keep going and if you do get a break then you take your chance.

"You have to try and keep going and make the most of things, for example, when Rio came I watched him and learned a lot from him in training.

"I have also benefited from having such good professionals around me, and I have had a lot of good advice from the local lads such as the Nevilles, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs who talk you through things because they know how tough it can be to break through.

"They took their chance when it was offered to them a few years back and that is what I have to aim to do.

"No matter what happens in the summer I think I can take a lot of positives from being with United, and it has been a great time with the biggest club in the country."

Although he is unlikely to feature in the crunch game between Wanderers and United at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, Lee believes his side face a tough task in getting three points. While he is unsure of who will take the three points he is certain of some banter from pals.

"A lot of my mates are Wanderers fans so I'm guaranteed some stick," said Lee.

"It's always a tough game for United to face because it means so much to all the Bolton supporters. It's the one game they most want to win during the season.

"You can never tell how it will go. United have to be favourites because of the squad, but with Wanderers scrapping for points anything could happen."