Ranking Manchester United’s five loan players in 2023/24 on their seasons so far…
A more proactive approach to selling young players this summer means that Manchester United only have five players out on loan at present, in comparison to 19 at the end of last season.
That makes it a little easier to rank the players out on loan, which is expected to increase in January.
Here are our rankings from the season so far…
#1 Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams had a difficult start on loan at Ipswich Town, scoring an own goal on his first start. It quickly improved.
Williams has shifted to play at right-back, which manager Kieran McKenna said was a key reason he wanted to sign him, to develop him at the position.
For the first time since early 2022, Brandon Williams is playing regular football again, and he is better for it.
Williams has scored two goals in his last three games, including an impressive solo strike in the last match.
Amid Manchester United’s dearth of first team full-backs right now, Brandon Williams’ form is really standing out.
#2 Will Fish
Will Fish did not had the smooth return to Hibernian he would have hoped for, after a successful loan spell at the club last season.
Hibs manager Lee Johnson was fired weeks into the season amid a poor run of results, and there was a fear the Manchester United loanee could fall out of favour.
Fish has dispelled these doubts, retaining his place in the starting line-up under new manager Nick Montgomery, and results have begun to pick up, with Hibs unbeaten in the last five Scottish Premiership games.
The young centre-back has made 15 appearances this season, clocking up more than 1,200 minutes already, including playing in five Europa Conference League qualifiers.
#3 Mason Greenwood
Mason Greenwood is back playing again after his arrest in January 2022 led his hiatus from football. He was sent to Getafe on a season long loan on deadline day.
Greenwood has been welcomed in Getafe, where he is out of the spotlight, and he is contributing to their team on a weekly basis.
The 22-year-old is not playing at the level he was at United, but that was never going to be an instant switch he could flick back on. Instead he is taking more gradual steps.
Greenwood is yet to hold down a regular starting place, he has two starts and three substitute appearances so far, but he is contributing.
He scored his first La Liga goal at the weekend, and also has one assist. There are likely a lot more to come. He missed Getafe’s early season fixtures against Real Madrid and Barcelona, so won’t have games against them until 2024.
#4 Alvaro Fernandez
Alvaro Fernandez is making progress on loan at Granada, and will go up against Mason Greenwood when their teams face off on November 11.
Fernandez has only one start for Granada so far, impressive in their draw with Barcelona at the weekend.
He has played 128 minutes to Greenwood’s 231, but after getting into Granada’s starting line-up, the young left-back will hope for a run of games.
Fernandez has come close to scoring already, hitting the post after helping his side to a comeback draw with Almeria.
#5 Charlie McNeill
Young striker Charlie McNeill had the perfect start on loan at Stevenage, scoring on his debut in early September in a 2-0 win over Leyton Orient.
Since then it has not gone too well. McNeill has only played in two subsequent games, with 164 minutes total action.
The 19-year-old was an unused substitute last weekend and has not played since September 23.
With his side performing well, in the play-off spots, there does not seem to be a hurry to bring McNeill back into the team.
He will have to stay patient and wait for his chance, and take it when it next arrives.
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