Manchester United’s academy has rarely been in a better place than it is right now, as a record-breaking wonderkid is already making a case for a bigger challenge.
While the club weren’t very active in terms of incoming players in January, Man Utd did sanction a number of loans.
On deadline day alone, four loan deals were finalised for players who are too good for academy football.
Which loan move are you most optimistic about being a success?
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One of those deals raised eyebrows because that player could have gone to a better team. Just two games in, he’s proving it already.
James Scanlon is preparing to face Lincoln.
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James Scanlon stepping up for Swindon
James Scanlon is not your typical wonderkid, as he is already a seasoned international with Gibraltar.
Gibraltar might not be a very good international side, but they play against some very good teams, so Scanlon has plenty of experience playing as an underdog.
That is why it was such a surprise when his loan was sanctioned to a League Two side, as he could probably play at least League One football, if not the Championship.
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In just his second game, Scanlon is making those predictions come true as he has scored his first senior club goal for his loan club.
Scanlon opened the scoring for Swindon in their 3-0 win against Oldham Athletic to push them into automatic promotion spots.
The Man Utd wonderkid has won both his games at Swindon so far, and the goal against Oldham was a just reward for a fine attacking display.
Scanlon was scoring for fun in the academy, so his exploits for Swindon won’t come as a surprise. United need to be careful with the next step they take with him.
Swindon loan could be special for Scanlon
There is absolutely no way that Scanlon should spend more than these six months playing League Two football, considering his form with the academy and his international pedigree.
HOW good can James Scanlon be for Manchester United?
After his best U21 performance, what is Scanlon's ceiling?
James Scanlon
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Fortunately for him, he can ensure it doesn’t happen by powering Swindon’s promotion push from the fourth division, something he’s doing already.
In that case, he could extend his stay at Swindon in League One, although United might try to send him to a better team in that case instead of a newly-promoted one.
Either way, his playing style and his eye for goal make him a formidable player regardless of the standard of opposition, because that is something that comes naturally.
He will hope that this goal is the first of many, as powering Swindon’s promotion push will immediately raise his stock immensely.
He will next be in action against League Two strugglers Newport County on February 11 with the hope of adding to his goal tally and powering Swindon’s promotion push.
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