Maguire has played every minute of every Premier League match and assumed the captain's armband, while James began his time in M16 with a famous debut goal against Chelsea and has made an impressive 37 appearances in his maiden season with a top-flight team.
The pair have each made divergent journeys to Old Trafford, and they revealed many of their different influences in the latest of our 'My Inspiration' series, in which players credit those who have motivated them on their path to the top.
As you can read in our Q&A below, inspiration inevitably comes from both the leading lights of the game, but also from unsung figures closer to home.