Sir Alex made it clear today he is planning to send Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverly out on loan for the upcoming season. While both were loaned to Championship clubs last season, this season Sir Alex intends to send the duo to Premier League clubs. Keeping them in the top flight is a clear sign of the high expectations he has for these two.
Both players have impressed thus far in the preseason, particularly Welbeck against the Philadelphia Union last night. While both have participated in the preseason, it has been widely expected that the two would be loaned out for the 2010/11 season, but I don’t think anyone expected them to go to Premier League clubs. I had heard talk of Welbeck returning to Preston North End, but it seems Sir Alex mas much bigger plans for him.
I think the moves have pros and cons, as all moves do. Cleverly would learn a lot from training with Scholes and Giggs, but I doubt he’d see much playing time. The same goes for Welbeck having players like Rooney, Berbatov, and Owen to mentor him, but they’d also be an obstacle for him to get minutes on the pitch. Going out on loan is likely the best option as it should allow the two to get valuable match experience in the top flight. Of course, they could also go out on loan and barely feature, in which case they would’ve been better off just staying.
Both have the potential to be key figures in a mid-table Premier League club, and I doubt they’ll have any problems getting matches. Looking to send them on loan in the Premier League is a sign of the confidence Sir Alex has in their potential. While they may not feature this season, I think the future is bright for both at Old Trafford.
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