Posted: 15 Aug 2009 04:51 PM PDT
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton is the latest United youngster to leave the club on loan this summer, having put pen to paper on a three-month loan deal with Queens Park Rangers of the Championship.
Heaton, 23, was expected by many to leave Old Trafford this summer in search of first-team football, but the England U21 stopper has been first-choice for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve side throughout pre-season. With the close of the transfer window rapidly approaching and no desirable move lined up, Heaton has seemingly (and perhaps understandably) chosen another loan spell over the prospect of reserve league football for the next few months.
That said, the move to QPR does, on the face of it at least, appear to be a slightly strange one. Czech keeper Radek Černý is highly thought of at Loftus Road and appears to be the undisputed number one for Jim Magilton’s side, and while the Northern Irish manager has stated that Heaton has been brought in to provide competition, it seems more likely that the Chester-born custodian will, barring unforeseen circumstances, ostensibly be there as cover. He will however link up with an old colleague and familiar face in the form of former United youth goalkeeper coach David Rouse, who now coaches the senior keepers at QPR – it could be that this played a part in both sides agreeing to the move.
This will be Heaton’s fourth spell out on loan, with spells at Swindon Town, Royal Antwerp and – last season – Cardiff City already on his CV. Last season was ultimately a bit of a false dawn for Tom, who initially won the starting role in goal at Ninian Park and made 21 league appearances, only to lose his place to Peter Enckelman due to injury and never really get it back.
As an ‘emergency’ loan signing for three months (or 93 days), Heaton was able to take his place on the bench for yesterday’s draw against Plymouth Argyle despite the late confirmation of the loan switch. It may be that the two clubs now reach agreement on a longer loan deal in the coming days, as happened with Lee Martin at Nottingham Forest last season. Whatever happens, Tom will don the number 22 shirt during his time at Loftus Road, and we wish him all the best.
United 4 Huddersfield 1: U18s complete pre-season prep with resounding win
Posted: 15 Aug 2009 08:01 AM PDT
FRIENDLY
August 15th 2009, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington
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Manchester United U18s
4-1
Huddersfield Town U18s
Morrison 1, 29 (pen)
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???? 67
King 4, 42 (pen)
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United’s U18s finished their pre-season campaign with a very comfortable 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town at Carrington this morning.
Starting on a new pitch for the 2009/10 season, the club had installed three permanent stands which can accommodate approximately 120 supporters. While it was good to get a seat, it did nothing to prevent the weather from giving all the supporters a drenching as the rain was vertical at times.
The game kicked off in sensational fashion with Ravel Morrison giving United a lead in the first minute. Three minutes later Josh King made it 2-0 with a good finish from a right wing cross by Nick Ajose.
United were clearly on top and the Huddersfield defence was all over the place. Once again King’s pace and strength was causing all sorts of problems. He was brought down in the penalty area just before the half-hour mark and Morrison stepped up to place it past the keeper. Then three minutes before half-time, a foul on King again, this time for shirt pulling, led to another penalty. This time Josh took the spotkick, and although the keeper got a hand to the shot, it had too much power and ended in the net.
Half-time: Manchester United 4 Huddersfield Town 0
Hussain and Ngoo had already come on as subs in the first half, replacing the injured Robbie Brady and Will Keane respectively. Paul McGuinness took the opportunity to make one additional change at the break, McGinty coming on for Thorpe.
In the second half, Huddersfield came out much more determined, while we relaxed and weren’t as decisive on the ball or with our passing. In fact, quite a few players were trying things on their own, rather than playing a team game. Morrison in particular was very slack at times.
To be fair, the terrible conditions didn’t help and Huddersfield scored a deserved consolation goal half way through the second period, a reward for a more dogged approach.
We made quite a few substitutions in the last half an hour, and there were few other chances to talk about.
Josh King was easily the best player on the park, while Morrison showed neat touches on occasions. Both Will Keane and Robbie Brady were excellent in the first half an hour before going off with niggles.
UNITED
1. Conor Devlin (13. Sam Johnstone 70)
2. Reece Brown (4. Tom Thorpe 63)
3. Luke Giverin
4. Tom Thorpe (15. Sean McGinty 46)
5. Scott Wootton (c)
6. Ryan Tunnicliffe (16. Larnell Cole 63)
7. Nicky Ajose (17. Jesse Lingard 61)
8. Ravel Morrison
9. Joshua King (12. John Cofie 61)
10. Will Keane (14. Michael Ngoo 36)
11. Robbie Brady (18. Etzaz Hussain 27)
The U18s now move on to the first game of the Premier Academy League season, again at Carrington next Saturday morning with Southampton making the long trip north for the first of five inter-group fixtures.
Thanks again to Mr MUJAC for the match report.
Reds quartet get England call-ups
Posted: 15 Aug 2009 05:37 AM PDT
England Under-17 head coach John Peacock has included new first-year scholars Sam Johnstone, Tom Thorpe, Ravel Morrison and Will Keane in his squad for the upcoming FA International Tournament.
The annual four-team tournament will this year feature Portugal, Italy and Turkey, with England as hosts, and gets underway on August 26th. Games will be staged at Notts County’s Meadow Lane, Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium and Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium.
Goalkeeper Johnstone is one of four players retained by Peacock from the squad that took part in the summer’s U17 European finals, but for the trio of Thorpe (a centre-back), Morrison (a winger/attacking midfieler) and Keane (an attacking midfielder/forward) it’s a first call-up at this level. All four United youngsters were part of Kenny Swain’s U16 squad last season, so they’re not strangers to representing their country.
You can view the full 18-man selection for the FA International Tournament here.
DAN! DAN! – Toon, Terriers take United duo on loan
Posted: 14 Aug 2009 06:30 PM PDT
It’s been relatively quiet on the loan front so far this pre-season, but the temporary exit door at Old Trafford finally saw some activity yesterday, Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town swooping for defender Danny Simpson and midfielder Danny Drinkwater respectively.
Simpson moves to St James’ Park with a point to prove and a United career to fight for. Now 22 and entering the final year of his contract at OT, the Salfordian defender knows that another season like last year’s wash-out on loan with Blackburn will surely spell the end of his time at his boyhood club. Even an impressive stint with the Magpies may not be enough to secure a future with the Reds, with Rafael da Silva looking like the heir to Gary Neville’s right-back position and other youngsters like Ritchie de Laet making a recent impression.
Newcastle have taken Danny on loan until January, hoping he can help shore up a defence that struggled badly in the Premier League last season and looked to still be shaky in last week’s Championship opener against West Brom. Simpson has prior experience of the Championship, having had previous loan spells with Sunderland and Ipswich in the second tier, but Newcastle United and the various crises engulfing that club at present will likely present an entirely different challenge. Simo has taken the number 12 shirt at St James’ and is in line to make his debut in this evening’s home match against Reading, which is live on Sky Sports at 5.20pm.
Danny Drinkwater (copyright htafc.com)
In contrast, Danny Drinkwater is embarking on his first spell away from the club he has been with since the age of 9. An impressive performer at reserve level last season, going out on loan was always a likely next step considering the depth of talent in midfield at United.
Having just been a part of the England U19 team that made the European Championship final and featured several players already with extensive first-team experience at their respective clubs, another season at reserve level was likely to be something of a come-down for the 19 year-old – the timing is right to seek senior football at a progressive club.
In that respect, Huddersfield appear to be an excellent fit for the 19 year-old. Terriers’ boss Lee Clark is clearly an admirer of the young Mancunian, telling his club’s official site:
“Danny is a midfield player that we have tracked for a long time. We have monitored him playing for Manchester United’s reserve side and England under-19s and we like him very much. He can play in all four positions across midfield and as an attacking player. He is a very good footballer who passes the ball very well and gets into goalscoring positions. I want competition for places all around the pitch, so I’m delighted to have Danny here.”
For his part, Danny is obviously delighted with the move and excited at the prospect of a first taste of senior football at the Galpharm Stadium:
“It has been in my head for the past few months now, if not towards the end of last season too, that I need to play first team football. I know that Huddersfield is a big club. I know a lot about the Stadium, about a few of the players and about the level of ambition and I am happy to be here.
The manager simply expects me to give my all, which I am more than happy to do. There is a fair bit of competition for the midfield positions here and I’m looking forward to that challenge. I want to play as much as possible here and help Huddersfield towards promotion.”
Drinkwater will wear the number 25 over the course of his season-long spell in Yorkshire, and goes straight into the squad for today’s home game against Southampton. We’ll have updates of the progress of both Danny’s throughout the season.
Intriguingly, despite being set to ply their trade in different divisions this season, the two United youngsters could find themselves in direct opposition in the very near future – August 26th sees Newcastle take on Huddersfield in the Carling Cup.
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