Manchester United Encouraged to Loan Out Fringe Players as Lingard Extends Birmingham Stay

Manchester United could be doing more to reap the benefits of loaning their young starlets out to Championship clubs, according to the club's Under-21 manager Warren Joyce.

With first team opportunities out of their reach, a number of United's young stars have been farmed out to clubs in the Championship and across Europe with Nick Powell, Angelo Henriquez and Federico Macheda enjoying excellent starts to their temporary spells away from Old Trafford.

But 20-year-old Jesse Lingard has perhaps been the biggest success story after scoring an incredible four goals on his debut for Birmingham City and another against Millwall at the start of the month.

His excellent form has seen Birmingham and United agree to extend his stay at St Andrews until December 14, and Joyce feels loan moves for the trio of Larnell Cole, Michael Keane and Tom Thorpe could produce similar success stories.

"I think some of the other have got to go out on loan," Joyce said for Inside United. "Even though we're short of numbers in the reserves side, they have played there for two years and done their time. They are more than capable.

"I've watched Nick Powell who has gone out and done well. Ryan Tunnicliffe is paying well, Federico Macheda had a good start. For sure, Larnell Cole, Tom Thorpe and Michael Keane would all do well in the Championship.

"We'll just look and see what materialises with those players but it's difficult as it goes in cycles and we are quite thin on the ground for numbers at the minute. But we have got to do what is best for the players."

After progressing through the United youth ranks Lingard was one of United's most impressive performers during the club's pre-season tour and has seamlessly taken that form to the midlands, much to the delight of Joyce.

"I am delighted for him," Joyce said of the England Under-21 international. "I feel confident he could play at that level comfortably and even above that as you feel he can play in the Premier League anyway.

"But he's got to go out and play against men and that is vitally important in his development.

"He has had that though, two years ago, when he was an Under-19 but played a lot of games against men and won everything in the reserves. So I'm pleased with his development over the last two tears and am hoping he really kicks on now and makes a name for himself."

From United's current first team, academy products Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck enjoyed successful loan spells away from the club before returning to compete for a starting berth.