Man United academy graduate Ethan Wheatley left Old Trafford on loan in January for a first-team opportunity - but it is not going according to plan.
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Ethan Wheatley walks through a crowd of fans during the pre-season tour of the United States.
Ethan Wheatley's stint at Walsall has not gone according to plan so far.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Ethan Wheatley will forever be associated with a landmark moment in Manchester United's rich and colourful history.
With time running out in United's 4-2 win over Sheffield United at Old Trafford last April, former Reds chief Erik ten Hag turned to his bench and instructed the young striker to get ready. With 90 minutes on the clock, he replaced Rasmus Hojlund to make his United debut.
In doing so the Stockport-born striker, who has been on United's books since the age of nine, became the club's 250th academy graduate to make his first-team debut.
"[A] dream come true to make my first appearance for my boyhood club at Old Trafford, hopefully many more to come in the future," a beaming Wheatley posted on Instagram afterwards.
Almost a year on since making his breakthrough, the striker has made three further appearances for United, all from the bench. His most recent outing was a late cameo in the 5-2 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup back in October.
A regular goalscorer for United at youth level, including 10 goals in 18 Premier League 2 appearances since the beginning of last season, it became increasingly obvious ahead of the January transfer window that United were reaching a fork in the road with Wheatley's development.
He was showing signs of outgrowing youth football and needed regular first-team exposure for the first time in his career. A deal was agreed with Walsall and he joined the League Two side on loan for the remainder of the season.
"It is my first loan so I am very excited to get going," Wheatley told Walsall's club website. "The club is currently top of the league so I am coming into a winning environment and I am looking forward to that and hopefully we can kick on for the rest of the season and I can help the team to do good things.
"I had interest from other places but they didn't have as many games left in the season and a big thing for me is earning game time and trying to play as much as possible in the men's game and hopefully I can do that and stamp my mark and impress."
Ethan Wheatley applauds Manchester United's fans after a game at Old Trafford.
Ethan Wheatley joined Walsall on loan for the remainder of the season in January.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Unfortunately for the youngster, opportunities have so far been limited at the Bescot Stadium. He has featured just three times for the League Two table-toppers and has been left out of each of their last seven matchday squads, last playing when he started Walsall's 2-2 draw with Salford City on February 1.
His ongoing absence has left United supporters scratching their heads as to how the youngster has struggled for game time in England's fourth tier having made four first-team appearances at Old Trafford. It is understood Walsall boss Mat Sadler has overlooked him because of the number of options he has available to choose from in attack, despite leading goalscorer Nathan Lowe being recalled by Stoke City prior to Wheatley's arrival in the Midlands.
Wheatley has used his ongoing absence as fuel to try and catch Sadler's eye in training in an attempt to win his place back in the squad for the end-of-season run-in.
"What I will say about Ethan, since he hasn't been in the squad, he trained so well and put himself in consideration to be on the pitch," Sadler recently told the Express & Star.
"It was difficult for him when he first came in and we shouldn't forget that. It was difficult circumstances for him with the changes to the front end and unfortunately he was part of when it completely changed. He will get his chances, he will get his time."
Walsall boss Mat Sadler applauds from the touchline.
Mat Sadler is yet to embed Ethan Wheatley in his plans.(Image: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images.)
Walsall made five loan signings during the January window and between them they have amassed just 11 appearances, with six of them by Ellis Harrison. Alfie Chang, who arrived from Birmingham City, and Darius Lipsiuc, who signed from Stoke City, are still waiting to make their debuts.
With 11 games of the League Two season remaining, Walsall are likely to need everyone to step up at some point as they attempt to cling onto top spot. They have stumbled in recent weeks, winning just two of their last nine games, meaning the 12-point lead they had at the summit prior to the start of this run has been reduced to just two.
If Walsall are going to avoid a complete collapse, they are going to need to find a way of winning games consistently again, and that will only be possible by scoring goals.
Despite his inexperience in first-team football, Wheatley is very well thought of at United, hence the club's decision to tie him down to a new contract until the summer of 2028 this week. Furthermore, he has also been coached by one of the club's greatest ever strikers in Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Outlining the impact Van Nistelrooy had on him during last summer's pre-season campaign, Wheatley said recently: "As you are coming up, you are looking to impress and express yourself, but you are also looking to get little bits off other players.
"I think one of the main ones was when Ruud was at the club. I was saying quite a lot that I could not think of anyone else better to learn from. I am always trying to try and get any little bits from any of the senior players.
Ethan Wheatley is given an instruction by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ethan Wheatley worked with Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
"Whilst he was there, every session I was trying to pick up bits from him, just asking questions to help my development."
With just three appearances under his belt and more than a month having passed since he last kicked a ball, it would be easy for Wheatley to be losing faith and possibly regretting his decision to join the Saddlers, who, at the time, looked like a perfect fit.
However, United have shown they have faith in the youngster by tying him down for at least another three years. He needs to use that as motivation to win his place back, prove his worth and attempt to get a promotion on his CV.
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