Manchester United are preparing for a bright new era under Erik ten Hag.
Whilst that has meant a fresh start for the entire squad, there will of course be players who will struggle to make the grade under the Dutchman. A lot of the club's youngsters may once more have to find minutes out on loan, as was the case last season.
James Garner and Ethan Laird were just two of the youngsters who enjoyed spells out in the English Football League ( EFL ). Here, we look at six youngsters currently out with the rest of the senior United players in their pre-season tour and give our verdict on how their short-term futures could pan out.
Ethan Laird
Wing-back Laird has made just two senior appearances for United. Last season he enjoyed a mixed bag consisting of two very different loan spells.
The first half of the campaign was at mid-table Swansea where he regularly featured. The second half of the season saw him re-despatched to Bournemouth and although he was toasting promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season, he hardly figured.
Speaking to United's website, he said: "At Swansea I knew some of the players already. Some of the players there are exceptional. There’s so many players but you just take it in from what they do on the ball, so that was a bit different for me, just watching them and then you realise ‘oh, I need to do the same to do that.’
"While I was at Bournemouth, there was a lot more, you could say like experienced pros there. Players who had been in the Premier League, came down, Premier League, been back. I feel that at Bournemouth I learnt quite a lot.”
Verdict : Another loan spell, this time on a season-long arrangement, looks ideal.
James Garner
Which of these youngsters will make the breakthrough at United? Let us know in the comments
Many have talked up Garner's chances but you would think a lot of it rests on whether or not Frenkie de Jong ends up at United.
They have made him their number one target this summer but while the Dutchman isn't a United player, there remains a gaping hole in the midfield after the exits of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic. Garner showed his class on loan at Nottingham Forest last term and was a focal point in a side which completed a rags-to-riches rise from the bottom of the Championship to play-off final winners.
He deserves his chance to shine.
Verdict : Stay, regardless of whether De Jong is signed.
Matej Kovar
Goalkeeper spent the second half of last term at Burton Albion making six appearances. Previously he had completed a placement at Swindon Town, in the first half of the 2020-21 season which saw the Robins relegated in a tough campaign.
Speaking about the experiences, he said: "(At Swindon) We lost I think six games on the bounce, we had a bad goal difference as well. I think we had negative about 15 goals and that kind of doesn’t help. And also as a group, as a team, obviously in football it’s about winning games and, yeah, like I said, that time was kind of hard, but obviously when I came back I kind of realised it was a learning curve.
"When I went on loan to Burton. I was kind of more ready, I knew what it is going to be like, how they’re going to behave to you as well so, like I say, I felt more ready. I’ve obviously been, when I got my chance I took it, and I really enjoyed it as well.”
Verdict : Another loan, reports suggest he could join Cheltenham Town imminently
Hannibal Mejbri
The midfielder made a first team breakthrough at the back-end of what was a forgettable campaign last time around.
Nevertheless, his tenacity immediately stood out and he has been included for the current pre-season tour. Still only 19, but with a remarkable number of senior caps for his country Tunisia, a spell out in loan in the hustle and bustle of the Championship may be just what he needs.
Verdict : A half-season loan to a second tier side.
Will Fish
Centre-half Fish won an unexpected call-up to United's pre-season tour following Axel Tuanzebe's late withdrawal.
And despite being given a run-out in the latest friendly against Crystal Palace, he blotted his copybook inside 20 minutes. He was shown a red card - quite a feat in a friendly warm-up game - for a lunge on Victor Akinwale who was clean through on goal.
Fish already had a mountain to climb given the number of centre-halves ahead of him in the pecking order but even more so now, following the big-money signing of Lisandro Martinez. Add in the fact Fish struggled to make any impression out on loan at Stockport last term and his future looks far from certain.
Verdict : Sell or loan out
Nathan Bishop
Goalkeeper Bishop excelled out on loan at Mansfield last term, as the Stags fell just short in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.
He was signed by United in 2020 with his role defined as 'practice squad player'. As such, he's yet to make a senior United appearance and despite Dean Henderson being loaned out this summer to Nottingham Forest and veteran Lee Grant hanging up his gloves, Bishop appears set for the exit door once more.
Reports suggest he is off to Wycombe Wanderers on a season-long loan.
Verdict: Sell, although a loan to Wycombe appears all but done.
Zidane Iqbal
Just 19, Iqbal made his first team debut last season with a brief cameo off the bench in a Champions League tie. A regular for the under-23s, the gifted youngster has been linked with a loan switch to Preston North End for the coming season following a spell at Deepdale last term.
That was part of United's work placement programme. It has been suggested a loan move may not happen until next January, but if his progress continues at the same rapid rate then Iqbal will have no shortage of clubs ready to swoop for his temporary signature.
Verdict : Stay put in the under-23s
Charlie Savage
Another who made his senior debut in the Champions League last term, Savage has also been included on the United pre-season tour.
Son of United academy graduate Robbie, Charlie was praised for his performances in pre-season, with former skipper Bryan Robson singling him out for praise. Aged just 19, he is another who could do with another year of under-23s football before taking the plunge and being loaned out.
Verdict : Stay put in the under-23s for now
Alejandro Garnacho
The exciting youngster earned senior minutes in the Premier League last term but has had to bide his time in pre-season.
He has yet to feature albeit United still have three more friendly matches against Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.
Having only just turned 18 this month, the best course of action would be for the Argentine to stay put in the youth set-up rather than being thrown into the deep end too soon with a loan spell.
Verdict : Stay put
