Things aren’t going quite to plan for Manchester United this season.
The Red Devils are eight points off the top four after 15 games and United manager Jose Mourinho has begun to bemoan the club’s lack of quality in depth, with the Portuguese still not happy with the lack of transfer activity in the summer.
Bringing three new faces in, United also sent nine players out on loan mostly to clubs in the United Kingdom, to gain valuable experience ahead of potential returns to the Red Devils or future sales.
But who are these players and how have they been doing so far this season?
Read on as Squawka ranks the nine loanees United currently have out on loan.
9. Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Club: Fulham
Position: Right-back
Age: 20
League appearances: 7
Fulham have been struggling in the Premier League this season, and so has loanee Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The defender has started all seven of his league appearances, four of which they have lost. But the 20-year-old has not featured since scoring an own goal and getting booked in the first half of a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town at the start of November.
Still, much is expected of the versatile 20-year-old who has been compared to Paul Pogba within the United set-up.
8. Kieran O’Hara
Club: Macclesfield Town
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22
League appearances: 12
Kieran O’Hara did not enjoy a good start to his loan spell with Macclesfield Town in League Two, failing to keep a clean sheet in his first nine games. The Silkmen are bottom of the division with just three wins but are set for an interesting campaign with former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell taking charge.
Like Fosu-Mensah, though, better times can be expected for a young goalkeeper who has been praised by United great Roy Keane and received his first senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland’s senior international squad last March.
7. Matty Willock
Club: St Mirren
Position: Central midfielder
Age: 22
League appearances: 12
Now in his second loan spell in Scotland after playing for St Johnstone in the second half of the 2017/18 season, Matty Willock has been unfortunate to be part of a poor St Mirren side this year. Currently bottom of the Scottish Premiership, Willock has made 12 league appearances both as a central midfielder and in a more right-sided position. Unfortunately he is being overshadowed by younger brothers Chris and Joe at Benfica B and Arsenal respectively.
6. James Wilson
Club: Aberdeen
Position: Forward
Age: 23
League appearances: 9
Once tipped for a big career at United after scoring twice on debut as an 18-year-old, James Wilson is now on loan at Aberdeen trying to get some form to eventually push a permanent move away from Old Trafford. Now 21, the forward has scored two goals in seven league starts for Aberdeen but is yet to complete a full 90 minutes in the Scottish Premiership this season.
5. Demetri Mitchell
Club: Hearts
Position: Left-back
Age: 21
League appearances: 14
Demetri Mitchell has proven his worth to Hearts in Scotland this season, turning out in all 14 of their league games so far, at left-back and slightly further forward on occasion. Hearts have not had the best run of form in recent weeks, having previously been top of the league, but Mitchell has been promising and will give United something to smile about from afar.
4. Joel Pereira
Club: Vitoria Setabul
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22
League appearances: 8
Joel Pereira enjoyed some exposure to the United first team during pre-season before being sent out on loan to Portuguese side Vitoria Setabul. Starting in eight of their 12 league games so far, Pereira has kept two clean sheets as he competes with Cristiano for the role as number one goalkeeper.
3. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Club: Scunthorpe United
Position: Left-back
Age: 21
League appearances: 17
Out on his third loan spell away from United, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is enjoying a lot of playing time at Scunthorpe United. The left-back has missed just four games in League One and scored two goals in his sole appearance as a wing-back in an exciting 5-3 win over Charlton. Unfortunately, Scunthorpe themselves have been struggling to some extent, currently 20th in League One.
2. Dean Henderson
Club: Sheffield United
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 21
League appearances: 21
After a good year on loan at Shrewsbury Town last season, helping the Shropshire club to the League One play-off final, Dean Henderson has been an impressive player for Sheffield United this year. The 21-year-old has conceded 24 goals in his 21 Championship appearances, keeping six clean sheets to help the Blades to third place.
1. Axel Tuanzebe
Club: Aston Villa
Position: Centre-back
Age: 21
League appearances: 18
Having returned to Aston Villa after spending the second half of last season there, Axel Tuanzebe is a key part of the Villans defence as they push for promotion to the Premier League. Tuanzebe has started the past 12 Championship games, finishing the full 90 minutes on each occasion, forming a good partnership alongside captain James Chester.
The post All nine Man United loanees ranked by game time & impact this season so far appeared first on Squawka News.
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