England U19 captain Matt James says his loan at Preston North End has lifted his game.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has always made a point of sending his best youngsters on loan deals - although that is mitigated by self-interest just as much as any desire to help England's national teams.
David Beckham was loaned to Preston and James, 18, is following in his footsteps.
He said: "I played 18 games for Preston in the Championship last season. It was a real eye-opener.
"There is no hiding place. Everyone can see you. It's hard and it's tough and some of the lads need their bonuses to pay their mortgages which brings it into focus.
"And you have to turn up with 15,000 people watching. In youth football, you might be playing in front of 200. You also come up against different styles of play."
He added: "It has really helped me a lot.
"It's been a massive learning curve for me. I think I've improved because of it."
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