Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley made just four appearances during his loan spell with Walsall in the second half of last season.
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United youngster Ethan Wheatley spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan with Walsall.
United youngster Ethan Wheatley spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan with Walsall.
(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley is eager to prove his worth and overcome a challenging loan spell away from the club by contributing to England's quest to secure the U19 European Championship title.
The 19-year-old was United's 2023/2024 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year after an outstanding season with the development squads, culminating in his first-team debut last April.
Limited to just one substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup in the first half of the campaign just gone, Wheatley moved to Sky Bet League Two side Walsall in January, seeking regular first-team action.
However, that time at the Bescot Stadium proved difficult, with only four appearances before he was allowed to return to feature for United's Under-21s towards the end of a campaign which could, now, still finish with success for England Under-19s in Romania.
"My second half of season has been frustrating, not being able to show what I'm about, really," Wheatley shared with the PA news agency. "But I think this tournament is the perfect way to do it.
"I think there'll be a lot of eyes on it and representing your country in a Euros, there's not much better than that.
"It'll be good to hopefully impress and, just for myself and for the team, play my part and do well.
"The club have been good with me. They've let me come back and play a few 21s games just to keep my legs going, so it's been good to be back at United, developing and getting game-time."
United staff are reportedly baffled by Walsall's handling of Wheatley, who netted a crucial goal for his country in an astonishing Under-19s Euros tie on Tuesday.
England were reeling with a 5-1 deficit shortly after half-time, when the forward ignited an incredible fightback to a 5-5 draw, as focus shifts to Friday's decisive group match with Group B leaders the Netherlands.
Wheatley exhibited exceptional maturity and confidence, which echoed his demeanour at the team's Romanian base, where he seemed resolute despite difficulties experienced at Walsall.
"Even if my first loan too didn't go well - and it didn't - I had it in the back of my mind, and I was telling staff around the club, it's not going to define me as a player," he added.
"It's not going to judge where I end up in the future. I think it's just like a little blip in my early career, and hopefully I can just bounce back from it going into next season."
Former United manager, Erik ten Hag, was fond of Wheatley and brought him into last summer's pre-season tour squad, in addition to selecting him for three Premier League appearances, yet it's uncertain what plans new head coach Ruben Amorim has for the young talent.
When quizzed about his prospects, the United striker added: "As of now, no, not really. I'm just more concentrated on this tournament. But, yeah, since [Amorim] came in I was away with international camp and, obviously, went on loan in January, so I've not really been around it too much.
"But I do want to be a United player in the future, but if that doesn't happen then it obviously wasn't meant to be. We'll just see what happens in the future."
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