How Man Utd’s 14 loanees are doing from Chong’s despair to Pereira’s renaissance

Manchester United are not having a great time of it lately.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under huge pressure following a horror run of four defeats in their last six Premier League games.

The fact that two of those saw their bitter rivals – Liverpool and Man City – both walk away from Old Trafford with all three points after dominant performances has only increased anger among United fans.

Whilst the current playing squad are feeling the heat, how about those away from the club?

Solskjaer sent no fewer than 14 players out on loan this season, with some venturing as far as Brazil whilst others have made the short trip to Salford on a temporary basis.

Here, we look at how they are all doing so far.

Which of these players will force their way into the United first team? Let us know in the comments section

Andreas Pereira

The most experienced of this year’s cohort to be loaned out by the club, Pereira is on a season-long loan at Brazilian side Flamengo.

It is his fourth temporary spell away from Old Trafford as he struggles to cement his place in the first team.

This term he has been a regular for his new side and got off to a fine start when he scored on his debut in a 4-0 win over Santos.

He’s since added a further two goals for Flamengo, who sit third in the league standings.

Facundo Pellistri

The talented Uruguayan impressed in United’s pre-season before being dispatched out on loan to Alaves for a second time.

He spent time there last term but will spend the whole 2021-22 campaign in Spain. He’s played 12 times so far, featuring in the draw against Barcelona and the win over champions Atletico Madrid.

He played 59 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 win at home to Levante and will be hoping to post more impressive performances between now and the end of the season as he aims to put down a marker ahead of his United return in the summer.

Brandon Williams

The 21-year-old joined up with United’s Premier League rivals Norwich City at the start of the season.

It has been an up-and-down time of it for Williams. The Canaries had to wait until last Saturday – their 11th league game of the season – before notching up their first win at Brentford.

Williams played the full 90 minutes for City, who made the surprise decision to axe boss Daniel Farke just hours after the final whistle.

An ever-present in the squad since joining, Williams has been an unused sub in four of the last seven outings so needs to nail down a consistent run of games – and now must impress whoever replaces Farke in the hotseat.

Axel Tuanzebe

Tuanzebe rejoined Aston Villa for a third time, agreeing to spend the full season at Villa Park.

Previous spells have seen him help Villa reach the Premier League, featuring in the 2019 play-off final win over Derby.

This season at Villa Park he’s made nine outings so far, eight of them starts. He is another who will now have to try and impress a new manager after Dean Smith was sacked following a run of five straight defeats.

Prior to his third loan spell with the Midlands club, Tuanzebe penned a new deal with United.

Ethan Laird

Laird has enjoyed a positive spell after joining Championship side Swansea City, with three assists to his name for Russell Martin’s side so far.

The 20-year-old knows Martin from a loan spell at MK Dons last season and will be hoping to further his progression one division higher this term.

Tahith Chong

Chong has already collected three man of the match awards this season during what was proving to be a profitable loan spell at Championship side Birmingham.

But after just 13 appearances the Dutchman suffered a thigh injury that required surgery. It was described by Blues’ boss Lee Bowyer as a “freak” injury.

Bowyer said: “I feel so sorry for Tahith Chong because his injury is so hard to explain. It’s crazy.

“There was no one near him when it happened. It was a five-yard pass from off the pitch playing it back on and he damaged his groin area.”

Chong is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines, potentially as long as five months in what is a bitter blow for all three parties involved.

James Garner

Garner is in his second spell at Nottingham Forest after impressing in the second half of last season.

Nevertheless, some Forest fans have been slightly critical that his latest spell has not been as prolific as last season.

He has already made 13 appearances but has started three of the last four games on the bench.

Reds’ boss Steve Cooper sympathises.

He recently said: “Last year’s loan was really important for him. Time at United was obviously really important for him in pre-season. And now he’s got another important period for him, where he will benefit – but obviously we will benefit as well, from having him here.

“He’s very much part of what we’re doing here.

“He’s a good guy. And, from speaking to him, he was really keen to come back, which shows he really enjoyed his time at the club.”

Di’Shon Bernard

Defender Bernard is in his second loan spell away from United. He joined Hull City on a season-long arrangement having played 30 times for Salford in League Two last term.

So far Bernard has made 12 appearances in the Championship for the Tigers, with all but one of those being starts.

Last Saturday saw City gain a much-needed win against fellow strugglers Barnsley with Bernard playing his part in helping them gain a valuable clean sheet in a 2-0 win.

Despite the vital victory against one of their closest rivals, Hull remain three points from safety.

Ethan Galbraith

Galbraith has been winning plenty of plaudits after arriving on loan at League One side Doncaster Rovers.

The diminutive midfielder has clocked up 16 appearances so far for Richie Wellens’ side and has one goal to his name so far.

Such has been his impact in a struggling Rovers side that he has won a call-up by Northern Ireland for this month’s World Cup qualifying double-header against Italy and Lithuania.

Nathan Bishop

Bishop is the understudy United goalkeeper who has the unusual role at Old Trafford which sees him deployed as a ‘practice squad’ player.

United goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis once said of the 22-year-old: “He has come in the door and I think he recognised the opportunity that he has as an individual, to come in and be around the first team.

“He is somebody who is really going to set the tempo in the training with his attitude, approach and application.”

This season Bishop has been sent out to League Two side Mansfield Town and the latest of his 17 appearances saw him help the Stags pull off an FA Cup shock as they dumped out giants Sunderland.

Bishop played well and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win for Nigel Clough’s side.

D’Mani Mellor

Mellor made his United debut in 2019 in a Europa League tie away at Astana. This season he’s been sent out on loan to Salford City but incredibly he has played just a solitary minute so far.

That was as a late sub in a win over Newport in September. Since then he’s featured on the bench on just two occasions, unused both times.

There has been little mention of Mellor’s name by the management staff at Salford recently, and so it is unknown whether he is injured or has just fallen out of favour.

Will Fish

Centre-back Fish joined National League side Stockport on a season-long loan in the summer but has struggled for game time.

Sunday saw County take a huge following to face League One Bolton in an FA Cup first round tie that ended 2-2. But Fish was an unused sub.

He has been starved of action, aside from a late cameo against Maidenhead in mid-September. His only other appearance was a 75-minute stint against Dagenham back in August.

Since then he has been in and out of the squads as he struggles to force himself into the side.

Dylan Levitt

The 20-year-old already has ten Wales caps to his name and is spending this season at Dundee United.

He has made 11 appearances so far for the Scottish side, who are fourth in the Premiership table.

This is his third spell away from United, after time at Charlton and Crroatian outfit Istra 1961.

Reece Devine

The 19-year-old full-back linked up with Scottish top flight side St Johnstone and has made nine outings so far in what is his first taste of senior football.

He has already had a taste of European football too, featuring in games against Galatasary and Austrian side LASK.

He’s been unused in seven of the last nine games however, so will be targeting more consistency after the international break.