Lost amid a busy derby weekend was another loan move for promising Manchester United youngster Jacob Carney.
Carney is a goalkeeper who at 19 is now at the third loan club of his career. United are determined to keep testing him.
He has joined Portadown FC in the top flight of Northern Irish football.
It is a step up for him and one he has earned. Last season he played non-league football on loan at Stockbridge Steels, before another loan in the first half of this season with Brighouse Town.
Carney made a good early impression at Bridhouse Town, winning the player of the month award.
United have now found the teenager a more competitive environment in which to test himself. Portadown are 10th of 12 teams in Northern Ireland’s top flight and Carney should embrace the new challenge.
Portadown are happy to have him in, with manager Matthew Tipton telling the club website he is pleased with what he has seen of him, and is hopeful that Carney’s spell in non-league will have prepared him well.
He said: “I’m very pleased to get Jacob in on loan from Manchester United.
“We have felt that we wanted to strengthen the goalkeeping department and through my connections with Alan Fettis at Man United we were offered Jacob and after watching his videos we had no hesitation in taking him in.
“Jacob has had experience playing in the rough and tumble of non league in England which was a massive positive for us. I must place on record my thanks to all at Manchester United for helping this move go through so smoothly.”
Talented youngster who is a few years away
United have a number of promising young goalkeepers, from Matej Kovar to Nathan Bishop, while Paul Wooston and Ondrej Mastny have been playing for the under-23s this season.
With Carney the club are trying a different approach to the rest, selecting him for loan moves in non-league and now Northern Ireland, and so far he has handled it well. This is another test for him.
Carney signed a contract extension last summer. He may take inspiration from Dean Henderson who was on loan at Stockport County at 19 and has now stepped up to compete for United’s first team.
Last February Carney had a taste of it when he was flown into Marbella to join the first team for training. If he wants more of it, a successful loan at Portadown will help.
Carney’s debut could come next weekend when Portadown take on Carrick Rangers.
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