Manchester United used the recent transfer window to send a number of players out on loan deals, increasing from five in the first half of the season to 17.
All 17 loans won’t be successes, we have seen this before, and Donny van de Beek is one who is experiencing a tough time, left out of the Eintracht Frankfurt side at the weekend.
One player who has enjoyed a dream start so far is FA Youth Cup winning goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
Vitek is on the first loan spell of his career, sent out to League Two side Accrington Stanley in late January.
Radek Vitek man of the match again
Radek Vitek enjoyed another strong performance out on loan, following on from winning the man of the match award on his debut last week.
A week ago he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, and this week he repeated the feat.
Vitek, 20, secured another shutout in Accrington Stanley’s 0-0 draw with Grimsby, winning the man of the match award again.
Accrington Stanley’s official account posted: “With 61% of the vote. @radekkobel is the winner of the #asfc Supporters’ Man of the Match award for yesterday’s game. Congratulations, Radek!”
Radek Vitek praised by both managers
He was praised by manager John Coleman after the game, who picked out a stunning late save he made in injury time to secure a point.
Coleman told Sportsmax: “Our keeper has made a great save late on. Radek has hit ground running with us, that’s two clean sheets and he has integrated with the lads well and it will be a good move for both parties.”
Grimsby boss David Artell agreed, commenting: “It was an unbelievable save from Danny [Rose]’s header at the end.”
Vitek told Stanley’s YouTube channel that he is finding it a big difference from under-21 football, with extra demands to ‘concentrate all the time’, a challenge he is rising to so far.
He posted on X: “Thank you for your support. Fans were amazing. First home game with clean sheet. Shame we did not ended up with all 3 points, but we go again next week.”
Manchester United have faith in Vitek
Goalkeeper is a difficult position for a young player to break through in. They can’t really be thrown on for experience in the last 20 minutes of matches like a midfielder, and rotation is rarely good for the team.
Loans are the best way for Vitek to develop, and this first spell is off to a good start for Vitek, who will likely be tested at a higher level next year.
Prior to his loan move, Manchester United smartly agreed a contract extension with the young Czech, who is now tied down until June 2027.
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