Manchester United linked boss Mauricio Pochettino went to Luke Shaw's house to stop him eating pizza when the pair were at Southampton

Mauricio Pochettino went to quite the lengths to make sure Luke Shaw was getting the right nutrition at Southampton. Shaw, 31, went from strength-to-strength under Pochettino, 54, at St Mary's - eventually earning him a move to Manchester United in 2014.

And the full-back could be soon joined by his former boss at Old Trafford. Pochettino has emerged as the frontrunner for the Red Devils' top job with Michael Carrick now expected to be sacked.

Ahead of the World Cup, where Pochettino led the USMNT at their home tournament, the Argentine appeared on The Overlap alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Jill Scott.

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Speaking to Pochettino, Neville joked: “Was it true that when you was at Southampton like with Luke Shaw, that you used to go round to his house?

"Because he was eating pizzas and you used to make the players eat the right foods all the time? Is that true about the Luke Shaw story or is that a myth?”

Pochettino was coy with his answer, but appeared to confirm the rumour: “Yes. It’s like another thing that makes us proud because OK, you asked two questions yes.”

However, before he could finish his story, Keane jumped in: "I think he’s still eating pizzas by the way, you stopped him in Southampton and now he’s eating them in Manchester.”

The studio erupted into laughter before Keane quickly clarified: "Only joking.” It's not the only quirk to do with food that popped up in their chat.

Pochettino admitted he has a habit of keeping lemons in his office to cleanse room energy: "Of course, 100 per cent," he said. "I really believe that that have an effect to attract the bad energy."

The Argentine has emerged as the frontrunner for the United job after reports emerged on Monday (November 9) that Carrick is set to be relieved of his duties.

Carrick had been given three games to convince he was the right man for the job after their 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Bournemouth. And their two last-gasp comebacks against Roma and Aston Villa looks like it wasn't enough to convince the higher ups.

The Red Devils are next in action against Liverpool when domestic football returns after the international break.