Manchester United U23 coach Ricky Sbragia has explained sending three young players to Scotland this season on-loan.

Demi Mitchell, Matty Willock and Charlie Scott have moved on six-month deals to Scotland, with Mitchell heading to Hearts, Willock rocking up at St Johnstone and Scott joining Hamilton.

"I think they can deal with it," Sbragia told MUTV. "Demi is showing that in the last four or five games, where he has come in there and it's not a big step up for him.

"No disrespect to Scottish football, but I think he has gone in there and dealt with it. Matty is at St Johnstone and Charlie's with Hamilton and it will change how we see them playing. It's about how Craig Levein at Hearts sees how Demi plays and how he follows the path Craig wants him to play.

"I spoke to Demi and he loves it. He's playing first-team football and is doing extremely well. So there has been this raid over the border all of a sudden and, from their point of view, it is great progression for them and their footballing experience."