Aidan Barlow made a triumphant return to Manchester United’s under-23 side on Friday night.
The 20-year-old was making his first appearance of the season and scored after just 17 minutes, after a delightful lobbed pass from Angel Gomes.
Barlow’s equalising goal set United up for a 2-1 win over Norwich.
He crossed the ball for Aliou Traore to score the winner, with the French midfielder scoring at the second attempt after his first shot was saved.
Loan return
Barlow spent the first half of the season out on an unusual loan at Norwegian side Tromso.
He scored two goals in seven appearances for the club, getting a useful taste of senior competitive football.
So it is with a little surprise that Barlow was overlooked to head back out on loan again in January, and has remained with the under-23s.
There’s probably a reason for that though, he still has a point to prove at this level.
Barlow was prolific for the under-18s. He scored a healthy 19 goals from 34 games from midfield.
But for the under-23s last season he struggled to have the same impact, scoring just once in 16 appearances.
It looks as though United are challenging him, to show that the loan deal has helped him improve, and now want to see it first hand.
If that’s the case, he got off to a perfect start, scoring a goal and helping to create another in a 2-1 victory.
The loan move looks to have done him the world of good, and now he just needs to show a bit of consistency.
What happens next?
Barlow needs to stay fit and deliver these type of performances between now and the rest of the season.
He is an interesting player who can feature on both wings, and he may even get a go up front with no obvious candidate to lead the line for the under-23s if D’Mani Mellor is not involved. He certainly took his goal like a poacher against Norwich.
A couple of years ago Barlow was called into England’s youth squads and a recall has to be a target for him.
At 20, he needs to make the breakthrough at United sooner rather than later, and a lack of natural wide players could count in his favour.
If he really impresses for the under-23s, the best case scenario would be that he could overtake Tahith Chong in the first team queue before the end of the season, amid doubts over the Dutchman’s future plans.
A more realistic goal is simply to do enough to show United he should be kept on heading into next season, and at least to earn a pre-season chance.
He needs more games like Friday night’s. If his second half of the season goes well, a few more United lads could be heading to Norway to fast track their development.
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