Matej Kovar and Joel Pereira leave Manchester United with very different prospects

Add as preferred source on Google

Two goalkeepers left Manchester United on loan over the weekend, with very different prospects.

Matej Kovar joined League One side Swindon Town, while Joel Pereira joins Championship club Huddersfield Town.

Kovar played 90 minutes in a friendly match at the weekend and has a chance to be the Robins’ number one.

He is being managed by former Red, Richie Wellens, which can’t hurt his chances either.

Kovar needs this loan, the first of his career. He needed a new test after threatening to outgrow under-23 football.

Last season he thrived in the EFL Trophy against senior sides, keeping two clean sheets in four matches. It showed he was ready for ‘men’s football’.

The 20-year-old has a bright future and this loan could help him in the same way spells out have helped Dean Henderson’s development.

Kovar could in a couple years end up backing up or competing with Henderrson for United’s number one spot.

Last chance saloon

The same high hopes of course were once held for Joel Pereira, a goalkeeper who’s promising career has lost steam.

Poor loan spells in Portugal, Belgium, and most recently at Hearts have made it very unlikely he ever plays for United again.

At Huddersfield he has arrived as a back-up, but a bad error from Ben Hamer against United’s under-23 side at the weekend puts their number one under pressure.

Despite warnings from Hearts fans on social media, some Huddersfield supporters are curious to see if Pereira can do better.

Pereira’s contract expires at the end of this season. The next 12 months are an audition for him to find a new club, permanently. There are just too many obstacles in his path at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese star is better than he has shown on his loan spells. He will hope to do himself justice over the next season, and even earn himself a permanent move to Huddersfield.

• Three things Michael Carrick will have learned from Andrey Santos’ Man Utd debut, key test passed
• I backed Jacob Devaney to break through for Man Utd this summer, Michael Carrick now approves
• Man Utd have a sneaky breakout contender in brilliant wonderkid after Wrexham game, he’s unique
• Donald Trump will be at World Cup final, but US president’s Man Utd ‘connection’ is deeper than some might think
• Analysing how Marcus Rashford performed in England’s 6-4 win over France
• Lisandro Martinez has never taken penalty in his whole career, but this is what he could do in World Cup final
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have once again been vindicated with major Man Utd call, despite Wrexham defeat
• 14 things I liked and disliked from Man Utd vs Wrexham pre-season opener
• Andrey Santos delivered exactly what Michael Carrick could have hoped for in Man Utd against Wrexham