I helped Sky Sports hire Manchester United legend Gary Neville and now he texts me at 4am

Geoff Shreeves has described Manchester United legend Gary Neville as a "force of nature".

The 48-year-old enjoyed a successful playing career winning 21 honours for United - winning the Premier League eight times. Neville's career spanned 20 years, making 400 league appearances for the Old Trafford club before moving into the media space joining Sky Sports and spearheading their coverage at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.

Neville has been outspoken in his views on football, often straying into the political sphere. He has also become one of the main voices speaking out during a difficult in Man United's recent history.

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Shreeves, who was one of the faces of Sky Sports' Premier League coverage as a pitch-side reporter, left his role as part of the broadcaster restructuring. While the journalist lauds Neville's work ethic, he says viewers of their coverage can 'thank or blame' him for helping Neville into the industry.

"Gary always credits me for taking him to Sky. It was part of my role in the old days because I wasn't just a reporter," he told LuckyBlock.com.

"The public can either thank me or blame me. Some people will be on either side of the fence there. Honestly, he's a force of nature. I don't know anybody like him.

"I honestly don't think he actually goes to sleep at night. He reboots like a computer. He doesn't understand holidays, does he? Or weekends, he's just constantly on it. He is relentless and I often get a text or an email from him at four in the morning."

One of Neville's former Manchester United teammates, Roy Keane,