Manchester United goalkeeper Joel Castro Pereira has returned to Old trafford following a loan spell at Rochdale after failing to receive a first team assurance. The 19-year-old shotstopper, who signed a new deal with United in August, agreed a one-month loan deal with the League One club in October but made just one appearance for them.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill has been vocal in his praise for the young Belgian, praising his "remarkable" passing range and composure and admitted he was disappointed to see him leave Spotland Stadium. "He has returned to Manchester and disappointingly so, may I add," Hill told Rochdale's official website.

"He's an excellent player, I love him to bits and he suits me as a manager with the type of goalkeeper that he is – he's very flamboyant, very risque and very confident."

Hill went onto explain that Pereira wanted promises of a first-team role with the club, something the manager was unable to give. The 46-year-old coach added that the club will welcome him back with open arms should he have a change of heart.

"He wanted me to give him assurances but I won't give anybody an assurance of playing or a guarantee that they'll play. I want a competitive nature to training and I want everybody to feel as though they've got an opportunity to prove themselves worthy of playing within training.

"I understand his thoughts and if he changes his mind and wants to come back then he'd be embraced with open arms because I think he's an excellent young kid who has got an unbelievable future in the game. I'm glad that he came to us and I'm glad that he played on Tuesday night because I thought he was excellent."

Pereira is likely to rejoin Warren Joyce's Under-21 side with Sergio Romero and Sam Johnstone ahead of him in the pecking order as David de Gea's deputy in the first team.

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