James Scanlon scored his first goal for Swindon Townplaceholder image
James Scanlon scored his first goal for Swindon Town | X: @Official_STFC
Man Utd allowed several players to leave the club on loan at the start of the week.
Manchester United youngster James Scanlon scored his first senior goal at club level as he helped loan side Swindon Town defeated Oldham 3-0 at the weekend.
The 19-year-old joined the League Two side on loan for the remainder of the season on deadline day of the winter window earlier in the week, and made his debut from the bench in midweek as they defeated Harrogate. Scanlon was rewarded with his first start for the club on Saturday lunchtime and it didn't take long for him to repay the faith of manager Ian Holloway.
Scanlon gave Swindon the lead when he took the ball down inside the Oldham box and set himself up for an emphatic right-footed finish from a tight angle. It was a moment to savour for the United youngster, who has already scored twice at international level, but had never found the net for a professional club.
Read More
Scanlon praised by Holloway
James Scanlon will hope to feature heavily for Swindon Town over the coming months as they battle for promotion from League Two. The victory over Oldham leaves them third in the league, occupying the final automatic promotion spot, in what is a tight top end of the table.
The Manchester United teenager could get another start when Swindon host Newport County in midweek and head coach Ian Holloway is impressed with what he has seen from the new signing already.
"He's delighted that Man United let us have him," Holloway said after the win. "What he can do, he plays for his national team, he is only 19. He shows all sorts of maturity; he can play two or three different positions. So, between where Junior (Hoilett) is and Scanlon is, I can swap them over to give me whatever I might need. That is the skillset we are missing without Paul Glatzel.
"I left two people out who were outstanding in the last two wins, now they are all going to have to accept my decisions. I have got the skillset for us to move forward. I think you could see that. Scanlon's goal, the way he took it. Am I surprised? No, I am not. Am I pleased? Yes, I am because I knew he would finish that. That is what he does.”
Although he has never made a competitive appearance for the United first team, Scanlon is already a regular for Gibraltar at an international level with 20 full caps to his name. The teenage winger became the youngest scorer in the history of the Gibraltar national side and the youngest goalscorer in Nations League history when he scored against Liechtenstein in October 2024.
Continue Reading