Darren Fletcher has encouraged Manchester United's young players to move out on-loan.
Tom Lawrence had spells at Carlisle and Yeovil before returning to make his Premier League debut against Hull.
And Fletcher has backed more youth team players to follow the 20-year-old Welshman's example.
Fletcher told the Manchester Evening News: "It sets you up for playing against men. All due respect to the Under-21s but it's just a step up from the youth team really.
"It's not like back in the day when you played against men and older players.
"It's about going out to compete against men in matches that means something, whether that's staying in the league, play-off places or even the other players have got contracts to fight for by staying in the league.
"That side of things is important. They will see a lot of things in the dressing room, like arguments, which will make them into men."
