A Starlet in Manchester United who has earned praise from Bruno Fernandes has explained his decision to go on loan.
The move of Ethan Wheatley to join League Two leaders Walsall until the end of the season was confirmed on Saturday, making his debut for the club just a few hours later as a second half of their 3-0 defeat in Bradford City. The 19-year-old was previously connected to a switch to Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham or their League One Rivals Stockport County.
In the meantime, the Dutch second-class SC Cambuur were also connected to the striker last week by local media outlet De Leeuerwarder Courant. The announcement he would sign for Walsall was made after he had registered four senior performances for United and won the Under-18S Premier League Cup in 2024.
Wheatley outlined his reasons to become a member of the Fourth-Tier Outfit published in an interview on the official Walsall Club website. The chance of receiving regular minutes from the first team seemed to be the most important determining factor.
He said: “It's my first loan, so I'm very excited to get started. The club is currently at the top of the competition, so I am in a winning environment and I look forward to it and hopefully we can start the rest of the season and I can help the team to do good things.
“I was interested in other places, but they didn't have so many games left in the season and there is a big thing for me earning playing time and try to play as much as possible in the men's game and hopefully I can do that and stamp my goal and impression. “
Last season, Wheatley became the 250th player of United's Academy to make a senior arch at Old Trafford. He reached the most important milestone when he was replaced on the field in a 4-2 victory against Sheffield United on 24 April.
He later revealed that shortly before he came up, his teammate Bruno Fernandes promised to offer him an assist. The hot young talent was unfortunately unable to mark the opportunity with a goal, despite the best efforts of the United Captain.
Wheatley said afterwards to Mutv: “He (Fernandes) pulled me aside and said,” I have nine minutes to try to bring a goal. ” So I just tried to get in positions for him, and it clearly did not come, but hopefully quickly.
He said: “I tried to give him a goal because he is a young child who comes through the academy; I know that the moment is huge for him and getting a goal in his first performance would be huge. I tried, at the moment I hurried a bit too much.
Comments