Tall, good in the air and strong in the tackle, Craig Cathcart is a prototypical centre-half, but he also possesses the ability and confidence to bring the ball out of defence.
The Belfast-born defender, capped by Northern Ireland at youth level, was coveted by a number of clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal and Rangers. He spent time at United’s School of Excellence in Belfast before rejecting all other approaches in favour of joining his boyhood club.
Cathcart was joint highest appearance-maker for the Academy Under-18s in 2005/06, before being named captain of Paul
McGuinness' side the following season.
He also managed to shoehorn in several reserve-team appearances, heading his first second-string goal in a 2-1 win at Everton, and when an injury crisis hit the first team's defence, Sir Alex Ferguson had no qualms about briefly promoting him to the senior squad.
Cathcart was an unused substitute in four senior games during the 2006/07 season, but injury prevented him from taking any part in the campaign's final games and also ruled him out of United's FA Youth Cup final against Liverpool.
Craig was loaned to Royal Antwerp at the beginning of the 2007/08 season, where he scored in his second appearance for the club. He played 13 times for the Belgians before returning to England and making seven appearances for United's reserves.
Pre-season 2008 saw the defender join the Reds in South Africa for the final Vodacom Challenge match. On his return to England, he embarked on another loan spell, this time with Plymouth Argyle for the full 2008/09 season.
Cathcart gained some valuable experience as a regular starter for Paul Sturrock's side, not only in the fiercely competitive Championship division but
also on Premier League turf - the Pilgrims visited (and lose to) Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. He scored his first Football League goal for Plymouth in a 3-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on 25 October 2008.
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