Büttner Gaining Strength

Alex Buttner says experience and extra gym work are helping to make him a better player as his second season as a Manchester United player moves into another month.

The Reds left-back rounded off October with his sixteenth career appearance for the club and it was a sweet occasion as he helped David Moyes' side to beat Norwich City and book a place in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals. Büttner impressed former United defender Henning Berg enough to make his shortlist for Man of the Match.

Working as a pundit on MUTV, Berg said: "I thought Alex did great. That's why I included him because it's good to see a young guy being attack-minded and showing his quality."

Büttner told us this week: "I feel like every game I play makes me stronger. I spend a lot of time in the gym here after training as well. In Holland I didn’t do that. That has really helped me.

"I think I have improved a lot in the last year and I think there is a big difference in the player you saw one year ago to the player you see now. I feel a lot stronger."

The Dutchman also attributes his improvement to feeling settled in England, 15 months after his arrival from Arnhem in his native Netherlands.

"I live outside the city next door to Robin [van Persie] and near to Shinji [Kagawa] and I feel very settled now. It’s great," Büttner enthused.

"When I first came it was difficult because I didn’t know anyone and my family wasn’t with me, but after a couple of months it got better and I feel like I have lived here a long time now. I have many friends over here and I spend time with my team-mates off the pitch too. It was important for me that Robin was here because we could speak Dutch together. He helped me a lot."

Büttner would doubtless like more involvement, having played just three times in the first team this season - and only once in the Barclays Premier League. But whether he's putting in a 90-minute shift as he did against Norwich, or watching from the bench or stands, the ebullient young defender insists every member of the squad is valued and has a vital contribution to make.

"Even if you don’t play every game, you play a part," Büttner said. "Manchester United is a special club. Everyone plays and fights as hard as they can to help each other - the team spirit is fantastic at this club. And you learn every day in training and every match you play. You never stop learning at United. That’s one of the great things about the club."