inside-forward

He had grown up admiring his United predecessor Eddie Colman, a right-half of greater natural gifts, who died in the Munich air disaster of 1958. By that time Stiles had already represented England schoolboys as a right-half, displaying attacking talents that would be somewhat inhibited in his later career.

He made his debut for United, in fact, as an inside-forward in the 1960-61 season, playing 26 league matches and scoring twice.