London, Nov. 18 : Manchester United player Gabriel Obertan is literally a grounded person, and proved it after being put on gardening leave.

When the French winger arrived in England, United coaches wanted to make sure that playing for one of the world''s biggest clubs didn''t go to his head.

While the 20,000-pounds-a-week footballer was recovering from a back injury, he was given a variety of light duties which included watering hanging baskets, pruning the rose bushes - and even washing staff cars at the Carrington training ground, The Sun reports.

Obertan, 20, who made his first-team bow last month, impressed the Man U staff with his green fingers.

A United source revealed: "It''s not very often these days a United first-teamer can ever be seen on manual duties! But Gabby is a nice kid and he was only too happy to help out with the older coaches'' requests.”

"He could give the groundsmen a run for their money with his trimming and lawn skills," he added. (ANI)