O’Neill said: “Ryan is close to Sir Bobby’s record and you get the impression he will break it and that says everything really.
“You cannot play that number of games for Manchester United without being called a great.
“I sometimes think some players with talent get a bit of luck and those young players coming through at United were lucky because it was Sir Alex Ferguson who guided them.
“I have seen players doing it at some clubs for half a season. Ryan has done it week in, week out, month in, month out, year in and year out and has Championship medals to prove it.”
