With the 2018/19 season officially over, we here at Tribalfootballare making sure you know all about how your loan players performed throughout the campaign. For this edition, we run our eye over Manchester United's loanees.
TOP 5 PERFORMERS
1. Dean Henderson, (Season-Long Loan) Sheffield United
Age: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
A simply extraordinary season for the young goalkeeper whose successful campaign has seen his name postered all around the world. Touted as a likely successor to David De Gea, whether it be this season or in the future, Henderson established himself as a keeper of the highest order and with the potential to rise to the top of world football. It was a third successive loan spell for the Englishmen, who made his first outing in the Championship with Sheffield United. The goalkeeper was a crucial cog in the blades promotion to the Premier League. In the process he won the club's young player of the year award along with the community player of the year award. Featuring a total of 46 times in the EFL Championship, Henderson conceded a meagre 41 one goals and kept a colossal 21 clean sheets, comfortably the most in the League. Henderson averaged 2.4 saves per game and even registered an assist. Although it looks likely he will join Sheffield on another loan spell, this season has certainly established Henderson as a Manchester United gem.
Rating: 10/10
2. Axel Tuanzebe, (Season-Long Loan) Aston Villa
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back
Returning back to Aston Villa for the second time proved to be nothing but successful for the promising defender. It was a season that ended in glory as the Villains won the Championship play-off final to achieve promotion into the Premier League. Tuanzebe made a total of 30 appearances across all competitions playing predominantly at Centre-Back. His season was considerably interrupted as he suffered a serious foot injury that ruled him out for 4 months. Tuanzebe was involved in 6 clean sheets, averaged 1.1 tackles per game and operated at a pass accuracy of 84.5%. He was a crucial component in the Villa defence and has shown overt signs of his large potential.
Rating: 7.5/10
3. Ethan Hamilton, (Six-Month Loan) Rochdale
Age: 20
Position: Central Midfield
He might be one of the more subtle names on this list, however this young midfielder impressed in his first loan spell since joining the United Academy at age 16. After a reasonable first half of the season playing with the United U23 side, Hamilton joined League One side Rochdale for the second half of the season. The Scotsman played 14 games in the league both in central-midfield and left-midfield. In these games Hamilton scored an impressive 4 goals. In his time at the club Rochdale rose from 19th on the table to 14th. An impressive first loan spell for the youngster who will look for more opportunity next season.
Rating: 7/10
4. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, (Season-Long Loan) Scunthorpe
Age: 22
Position: Left-Back
United's other promising full back took a step down to the English Third Division after shorter spells in the Championship in season's past. The objective for the youngster was to get minutes and thats what was given to him. Borthwick-Jackson made a total of 33 appearances across all competitions for Scunthorpe, taking the number 1 spot at Left-Back before injury prematurely damaged his season in February. During that period, Scunthorpe dropped from 16th to 23rd where they were subsequently relegated. Jackson registered 2 goals when playing at Left Midfield in a 5-3 win against now-promoted Charlton. Without excelling tremendously it was a solid season for the young talent who got a season's worth of experience under his belt.
Rating: 6/10
5. Demetri Mitchell, (Season-Long Loan) Hearts
Age: 22
Position: Left-Back
A similar story to Borthwick-Jackson, as the young defender Mitchell made his second loan spell to Scotland to build up experience. The left sided player made a total of 23 appearances across all competitions at both left-back and left-midfield. In the Scottish Cup Mitchell played a blinder in a 4-0 win, scoring 1 goal and assisting 2. After he suffered a torn muscle and a damaged tendon in February, the youngster's season was cut short. A season of good exposure for Mitchell without setting the world on fire.
Rating: 6/10
FULL LIST OF OTHER MANCHESTER UNITED LOANEES + RANKINGS
Timothy Fosu-Mensah, (Season Long-Loan) Fulham
Age: 21
Position: Right-Back
The young promising defender's 2018/19 campaign was far from ideal. Joining newly promoted side Fulham after the prior season with Crystal Palace seemed only a positive move for the Dutchman, with apparent Premier League opportunity on the horizon. This was far from the reality as the young defender only managed 12 Premier League appearances and 1 in the cup. In this dearth of minutes on the pitch, Fosu-Mensah registered no goals or assists, and even knocked the ball into his own net once, an own goal that cost Fulham the game in a 1-0 loss to bottom side Huddersfield. A setback of a season and it will be interesting to see where this prospect will ply his trade next season.
Rating: 2.5/10
Joel Pereira, (2 Six-Month Loans) Vitoria Setubal / KV Kortrijk
Age: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
Manchester United's forgotten Keeper experienced a rather unassuming season comprising of 2 six-month loan spells. The first with Portuguese first division side Vitoria Setubal where he featured only 10 times, for 2 clean sheets and 16 goals conceded. His second spell saw him ply his trade in Belgium where he made a mere 5 appearances however this time for 2 clean sheets and only 4 goals conceded. If he were to make a case for the potentially vacant number 1 spot, it would have to have been a stronger season than this.
Rating: 3/10
Keiran O'Hara, (Season-Long Loan) Macclesfield
Age: 23
Position: Goalkeeper
The Academy Goalkeeper O'Hara made his way to League Two side Macclesfield Town under manager Sol Campbell for the 2018/19 season. The Manchester born Irishman established himself as Macclesfield's number 1 and appeared 42 times between the sticks. He conceded 68 goals and kept a mere 8 clean sheets with a side that finished 22nd.
Rating: 4/10
*Other Loan Players: James Wilson, Matty Willock, Regan Poole, Callum Whelan, Zak Dearnley and Tom Sang were all released by the club following the season's end.
