Marouane Fellaini unveils 'birthday' haircut...but the big day is next week

Marouane Fellaini appeared to forget his own birthday after unveiling a new haircut to mark the occasion a week too soon.

The Manchester United player has lost his distinctive afro, and shared the fresh trim with his Twitter followers on Wednesday along with the hashtag 'birthdaytomorrow'.

However, according to Fellaini's account, the Man Utd website and various online sources, his birthday is next Thursday on November 22nd.

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The cause of the confusion remains unclear, but Fellaini tweeted: "New year, new look #birthdaytomorrow."

Fellaini has rarely changed from the trademark afro he has sported since his emergence at Belgian club Standard Liege, with fans at former club Everton fond of wearing wigs in homage.

The instantly recognisable look has helped Fellaini carve out a niche as a cult hero in English football, capable of match-winning moments but a source of frustration for many fans.

Fellaini looked like he was on his way out of Old Trafford last summer before he and the club agreed terms on a new contract.

The Belgian has continued to be a useful contributor for Jose Mourinho this season, playing a vital role in their smash and grab victory against Juventus from the bench.

Fellaini recently referred to himself as:  “A player who knows his qualities. I know what I can do, and what I can’t.”

“I am very happy with him,” Mourinho told the club's website earlier this season.  “He is one of the players that has improved from last season. He’s playing well in different positions.

“You can feel his commitment, his heart and his happiness to be at the club, and to stay at the club, and to play for the club. Clearly, he is showing that famous thing of the team being more important than one of us and he has sacrificed himself for the team.'