loan in January 2009 until the end of the season.

Cleverley made his debut for the Foxes at Yeovil the same month, and scored his first goal for them in a 4-1 win at Walsall in February, only for a dislocated shoulder to cut short his spell at the Walkers Stadium. However, in recognition of another promising campaign he was again shortlisted for United's Reserve Player of the Year award, narrowly missing out to James Chester.

Cleverley's first Old Trafford goal came in United's pre-season win over Valencia in August 2009. Soon after he moved to Watford on loan, where his magnificent form for Malky Mackay's side earned him the Hornets' Player of the Year

award. Tom scored 11 times in 33 appearances for a struggling side, and might have had more but for a serious knee injury which curtailed his season-long loan by a month.

Despite such a disappointing end to an eye-catching season, Cleverley did not let the setback get him down and, following a return to full fitness, impressed during United's pre-season tour of North America in July 2010, netting twice.

Sir Alex insisted Cleverley was very much part of his plans for the 2010/11 campaign, but with competition for places particularly fierce in midfield, the boss opted to send Tom on a season-long loan to Wigan Athletic on