Sir Alex Favours English Loans

Sir Alex has expressed a preference for keeping on-loan players in England as clubs continue to eye temporary deals with United's youngsters.

While the window for permanent transfers closed last Friday, loan moves can still be made. United chief executive David Gill admitted last week there could be a couple of exits from Old Trafford on this basis, and the boss has previously spoken about obtaining senior experience for some of the reserves who swept the trophies board in 2011/12.

Although farming younger prospects out to Royal Antwerp has proved beneficial in the past - and Luke Giverin and Gyliano van Velzen have just moved out to Belgium - a deal with an overseas club can be a step into the unknown. Federico Macheda had little luck out on loan in his native Italy while Joshua King struggled for game-time at Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.

"Very few of our young players go abroad on loan," explained Sir Alex. "We had Federico Macheda go to Sampdoria and he was only there a week and they sacked the coach. It ended up being a nightmare for him and he never got a game. I think it's better that the ones that go on loan go to the Barclays Premier League or the Championship. By doing that, we can have regular contact and see them every week. We get them watched all the time. That's the process by which we work under."

The Reds currently have five players stationed at other English clubs - Fabio (QPR), Reece Brown (Coventry), John Cofie (Sheffield United), Ben Amos (Hull) and Sean McGinty (Oxford).