One Manchester United loanee’s performances in the Championship could help boost the squad when he returns to the club next season.
Manchester United have a number of players on loan developing into professional football throughout the English football pyramid including Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Ethan Wheatley.
By loaning out players United give young inexperienced players the chance to grow into professionals by stepping away from the youth teams and playing in competitive games in professional environments.
United also use loans to keep squad numbers low enough to have a consistent rotation of players.
Collyer’s loan to West Brom had a successful start, playing in nine games in the Championship. Most recently a performance against Preston, which was called short due to injury, saw Collyer pick up his first assist of the season. The midfielder is expected to be back in mid November.
Goalkeeper troubles have surrounded United for many years now with David de Gea’s form drifting off at the end of his United career and Andre Onana being sent out on loan to Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Senne Lammens has had a bright start to his United career when replacing Altay Bayindir in the lineup, showing a possible turn of luck for United fans.
Vitek to fight for a spot in United rotation following great form
One of the players loaned off from United to the Championship in top form is goalkeeper Radek Vitek who’s great form has seen him win a Player of the Month award for Bristol City and become a fan favourite at Ashton Gate.
Four championship clean sheets have come alongside numerous Man of the Match awards. Vitek’s performances have also helped to push Bristol City to fourth place.
Vitek will return to United in June 2026 and if his performances remain consistent, he can expect to find a place as the backup keeper, especially since Bayındır will likely leave the club.
Viteks loan has proved that he can replace the Turkish international in the rotation with the same amount of goals conceded despite playing five more games. Vitek is also outperforming his expected xGOT faced conceding eleven goals with 13.6 xGOT faced, whereas Bayindir faced 10.3 xGOT, as per Fotmob.
Top goalkeeper form could see possible Bayindir exit
Seeing goalkeepers in good form, fighting for the starting spot, will feel refreshing to United fans who have had to face the inconsistency of keepers in the past years.
Rúben Amorim will have to choose between Lammens and Bayindir in the FA Cup games that begin in January. Bayindir’s training performances will have to be great to replace the Belgian.
The addition of Vitek in the goalkeeper squad next season may however see the exit of Bayindir as he looks towards opportunities with increased game time.
After finally getting some chances in the team under Amorim, Bayındır has been described as ‘weak’ and it seems unlikely that he gets the chance to prove people wrong after Lammens’ impressive start and Vitek’s form on loan.
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