Ten Hag weighs up loan moves for young Reds
Erik ten Hag admits there are decisions to be made over the short-term future of several young Manchester United players, as he contemplates the upcoming fixtures and looming end of the transfer window.
Brandon Williams was one such youngster whose name came up during Friday's pre-match press conference for the Emirates FA Cup game against Reading, given that a home tie against lower-league opponents can sometimes inspire a manager to provide opportunities to less experienced members of his squad.
In fact, the 22-year-old full-back featured in the Reds' senior matchday squad for our previous cup tie, the midweek win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Ten Hag was asked if he could consider loaning out Williams, or keeping him in-house to help with a hectic schedule as United continue to play in four competitions.
In fact, the 22-year-old full-back featured in the Reds' senior matchday squad for our previous cup tie, the midweek win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Ten Hag was asked if he could consider loaning out Williams, or keeping him in-house to help with a hectic schedule as United continue to play in four competitions.
Part one: Ten Hag's pre-Reading press conference Video
Part one: Ten Hag's pre-Reading press conference
Press conference part one | See what Erik said about the squad, potential loan moves and our in-form defenders...
"I think that also counts for Zidane [Iqbal], and definitely for Brandon," the manager replied.
"He had a bad injury, he's on the way back, he was in the pre-season for the restart [in Spain] and now he's in the squad.
"He was also in the selection for last Wednesday at Forest so he's really a part of it. It's also a little bit up to him but I like him, but we have to work with him and see where his developments can go.
"That is also about him, to find the moment where he can deserve his chance and take his chance. But when he wants a loan, we have to talk about that."
"He had a bad injury, he's on the way back, he was in the pre-season for the restart [in Spain] and now he's in the squad.
"He was also in the selection for last Wednesday at Forest so he's really a part of it. It's also a little bit up to him but I like him, but we have to work with him and see where his developments can go.
"That is also about him, to find the moment where he can deserve his chance and take his chance. But when he wants a loan, we have to talk about that."
Having already been on loan several times, Facundo Pellistri is another player who was naturally put forward by the media as a prospect for going out once more, to gain further experience.
But the young Uruguayan has recently delivered some impressive cameo performances for Ten Hag's team, and the manager hinted he could feature again in the FA Cup clash with Reading,
"We have our ideas and for some players we are open for loans but some players we are not," added the boss.
"I think they have to develop first in our environment and second, we have many games to cover, and so we need players to cover that. When you play in 30 days 10 games, you need a lot of players.
"The way we put [players] on, on Wednesday, Pellistri, that's already a signal."
But the young Uruguayan has recently delivered some impressive cameo performances for Ten Hag's team, and the manager hinted he could feature again in the FA Cup clash with Reading,
"We have our ideas and for some players we are open for loans but some players we are not," added the boss.
"I think they have to develop first in our environment and second, we have many games to cover, and so we need players to cover that. When you play in 30 days 10 games, you need a lot of players.
"The way we put [players] on, on Wednesday, Pellistri, that's already a signal."
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