Terry: Once a United kid (PhilCole/Allsport)

Six years ago he was invited to sign an Old Trafford contract but turned it down so he could join Chelsea.

Today the 20-year-old Terry is expected to line up in the home defence against United at Stamford Bridge.

Yet, he has no fears about facing United and their star-studded strikeforce.

'They won't faze me and they won't worry me,' he said. 'All I 'll be anxious about is what I do myself.

'I know I could have been playing with them, instead of against them, but I turned United down because I believed I stood a better chance at Chelsea.'

Terry's ability will not be lost on Eric Harrison but, rather than rue one that got away, United's youth coach can be content with his lot.

Last night, he lifted the lid on how he nurtured such talents as Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham - a golden crop that now makes United one of Europe's dominant forces.

Harrison said: 'People have asked me who is the best player I have helped to develop and I still don't know.

'Ryan Giggs, in full flight, is probably the most exciting. He is crucial to a successful side. Someone has to run with the ball and Ryan is up there with the best.

'When he joined United on a full-time basis after leaving school, there were two things we needed to improve and we both worked hard on them.

'I improved Ryan's right foot by making him practice with it in crossing sessions and restricting him from using his left foot. It was like an optician putting a patch over a child's good eye to make the "lazy eye" work harder - and it worked.'

Whenever battle commences, Harrison is under no illusions who he would like to have in his side.

'I have always likened Nicky Butt to Bryan Robson because he is afraid of noone. He needs to score more goals to become a regular with England but if I was playing in the roughest, most intimidating of games, I would want Nicky Butt by my side.'

Harrison, who reveals all in his autobiography The View From the Dugout, also had praise for his star pupil - Beckham.

'If anyone thinks that all the things David has accomplished have landed in his lap, they couldn't be more wrong. Since his formative years he has practised from morning until night. You won't find anyone more dedicated.

'David can do absolutely anything with a football. He deserves all the success he has achieved so far and, believe me, there is more to come in the future.'

Like his Old Trafford counterparts there are no boasts about what Chelsea prodigy Terry can achieve, just a quiet confidence that, if he plays today, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke or Teddy Sheringham won't put him off his contented stride.

Chelsea assistant manager Gwyn Williams said: 'We believe what we have in the club is another Tony Adams. They have the same approach to football, the same attitude.