Phil Neville says he was not accepted by Everton fans until this moment against Manchester United

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Neville had supported, played for and developed at United, so it took some time to make his mark when he left for Merseyside.

Phil Neville has told BBC’s Match of the Day 2 that his infamous challenge on Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo ensured he was finally accepted by the Everton supporters.

The former England international captained the Merseyside club for a number of years after signing from boyhood club United in 2005, but Neville claimed in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2013 that he was always viewed as ‘The Manc’ plying his trade in front of a stadium of Scousers.

However, the younger of the Neville brothers proved precisely where his loyalties lay in a typically feisty clash with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in 2008, flying into a two-footed challenge as Ronaldo stumbled and attempted to keep control of the ball, incurring the wrath of former United team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs to boot.

Marouane Fellaini, who ironically gave away a crucial penalty as United surrendered two points in the closing stages at Goodison Park this Sunday, powered home an equaliser in that clash eight years ago, with then-Everton boss going on to describe Neville’s challenge as the turning point in a season that lead to an FA Cup final.

And Neville himself says the thumping tackle meant he was suddenly accepted by the club’s famously vociferous support.

“For Everton, it was always a difficult fixture for me,” the former Valencia and United coach told Match of the Day 2, broadcast at 10.20PM on 4^th December.

“I did a tackle on Ronaldo and it defined my Everton career really. From that day onwards I felt like one of theirs.”

“It’s a fantastic game to play in. There’s two cities playing against each other so there is an intense rivalry. It’s a fixture that supporters love as well.”

Goodison Park has proved a traditionally testing hunting ground for United over the years, with the weekend’s 1-1 draw meaning Jose Mourinho’s side fell ever further behind the chasing pack.