Loan Watch: How United's players fared in 2022/23

Some of them were senior Reds, such as Alex Telles, Eric Bailly, Dean Henderson and Axel Tuanzebe, while many were current Academy players who switched clubs and levels to gain first-team experience and enhance their development.

Now that the curtain has come down on their campaigns, we're reflecting on the fortunes of 17 loanees below.

With some lifting silverware and others lighting up their respective divisions, it's safe to say the long-established process of loaning out players has paid dividends once again...

AMAD
Games: 43 | Goals: 14 | Assists: 4

Flying forward Amad almost helped Sunderland gain promotion to the Premier League, after they finished sixth in the league, but they were eliminated in the play-off semi-finals by eventual winners Luton Town. The Ivory Coast international's form earned him Sunderland's Young Player of the Year award and he was also named PFA's Fans' Player of the Year for the Championship. His stellar campaign will surely stand him in good stead for the future, after he lit up the second tier.

ERIC BAILLY
Games: 17

Bailly's Marseille finished third in Ligue 1 at the end of the 2022/23 season, meaning they will participate in qualifiers for a place in the Champions League next term. Across the season, Eric only made five starts, due to injury worries and a five-match suspension he picked up for a red card in January.

DI'SHON BERNARD
Games: 10

Bernard made 10 appearances for Portsmouth, as they finished eighth in League One. This tally included four consecutive starts at centre-back.

ALVARO FERNANDEZ
Games: 42 | Assists: 6

Another loanee impressing in the Championship, Fernandez played for Preston North End during 2022/23. The Spanish youngster, who was named United's Under-23s Player of the Year for 2021/22, nailed down a left wing-back spot at Deepdale and was a crucial member of the team that made a late push for the play-offs but went off the boil at the end.

WILL FISH
Games: 21 | Goals: 3

Fish was the only one of our loanees to venture into Scotland, as he played for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League in 2022/23. Hibs finished fifth in the league, and the highlights for our young centre-back will undoubtedly include his three goals for the Edinburgh club.

ETHAN GALBRAITH
Games: 38 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 3

Now no longer a United player, Galbraith spent last season with Salford City. He narrowly missed out on the League Two play-offs with the Ammies, and his departure from the Reds was confirmed recently.

HANNIBAL
Games: 41 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 6

Hannibal also operated in the Championship last term, playing regularly for Birmingham City's first team as they finished 17th. The Tunisia international's remarkable free-kick against West Bromwich Albion earned him the club's Goal of the Season award.

DEAN HENDERSON
Games: 18 | Clean sheets: 6

Despite his promising start to the season for Nottingham Forest, Henderson suffered a season-ending thigh injury in January and was replaced in goal by Paris Saint-Germain loanee Keylor Navas. Against the odds, Steve Cooper's side avoided relegation back to the Championship and will play Premier League football for a second successive season next term.

JOE HUGILL
Games: 7 | Goals: 1 

MAXIMILIAN OYEDELE
Games: 12 | Goals: 4

Hugill and Oyedele both benefited from our Academy's innovative new loan agreement with National League club Altrincham for the second half of the 2022/23 season. The pair could train with the Reds and the Robins, and play senior football for the latter when required.

MATEJ KOVAR
Games: 23 | Clean sheets: 8

Kovar's Sparta Prague finished top of the Czech First League, edging out Slavia Prague in both the regular season and the five-match Championship round. The United goalkeeper also helped his temporary team to reach the Czech Cup final, where they were defeated by local rivals Slavia. The 23-year-old played every single minute for the eventual league champions.

ETHAN LAIRD
Games: 33 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 2

Laird played 33 matches for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship and, despite an injury in early 2023 keeping him out for a number of weeks, he saw out the season as their starting right-back once more. The London club started the campign remarkably well, but narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 20th.

CHARLIE MCNEILL
Games: 20 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 1

Young striker McNeill made the switch to Newport County in January, and spent the second half of the season plying his trade in League Two. He found his feet quickly too, scoring his first senior goal in March against Tranmere Rovers. Newport finished the season in 15th place, with McNeill only tasting defeat five times in his 20 matches for the club.

CHARLIE SAVAGE
Games: 15 | Goals: 1

In a winter loan move, Savage went to Forest Green Rovers in a bid to help Duncan Ferguson's team avoid relegation from League One. Although ultimately the drop could not be averted, Savage looked bright during his spell with the Gloucestershire club and scored his first goal in senior football.

SHOLA SHORETIRE
Games: 16 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 2

After arriving at Bolton Wanderers on loan in January, Shoretire helped his temporary club reach the League One play-offs. He didn't play any part in either leg of the semi-finals, however, as they were eliminated by Barnsley.

ALEX TELLES
Games played: 27

Brazilian left-back Telles went on loan to Spanish club Sevilla for 2022/23 and despite the initial threat of relegation from La Liga, Jose Mendilibar's side stayed up. They then topped this off by going all the way in the Europa League - beating United in the quarter-finals - to lift the trophy for a record seventh time. 

AXEL TUANZEBE
Games played: 5

Centre-back Tuanzebe made a temporary switch to Stoke City in January, making five appearances as the Potters ended the season 16th in the Championship table.