Manchester United will soon travel to the USA for the next leg of their pre-season tour which will consist of three games.
The traveling squad is expected to provide huge hints about the future of many players, as those who United are wanting to sell are unlikely to be risked.
The status of many youngsters will also become clear as those traveling with what is effectively the senior team can probably count on staying at Old Trafford this season.
Amidst the excitement that the squad reveal will bring, United have already made a decision on one player who made a huge impact in pre-season.
Man United striker set for loan move
As expected, United have taken emergency measures on one player after a loan move away from the club was agreed for him.
Manchester Evening News reports that striker Joe Hugill, who scored in United’s second pre-season game against Rangers, is closing in on a loan move to Wigan Athletic.
Wigan Athletic are currently in the third tier of English football which means it is Hugill’s second consecutive spell in League One.
He spent the second half of the season on loan at Burton Albion last year but scored only once in 18 league appearances, assisting three despite starting well.
He would have to undoubtedly improve on those numbers if he is to impress at Wigan but going their at the start of the year and participating in the pre-season with his new team will be more helpful.
Moving to a team and their tactical style in the middle of the season is never easy, something which Hugill had to tackle at Burton.
Make-or-break move
Hugill signed a new contract with the club this summer so terming it a “make or break” move might sound like hyperbole to some.
However, one look at his career trajectory makes it clear why we say this is the season for Hugill to save his United career.
The striker is already 20, and under the new time, giving contract extensions to youngsters is becoming a routine to create a sort of loan army to profit from.
Hugill’s game hasn’t translated well to senior football for quite a while now as the physical advantage he enjoys in U21s game vanishes.
Beyond that, he hasn’t shown enough beyond his poaching skills to convince that he can be a regular contributor to the team at Old Trafford.
If Hugill impresses at Wigan, for example, scores in double figures at least, then it would allow United to cash in while his stock is high, with a sell-on clause thrown in.
If he doesn’t, then he would have entered the last year of his contract next summer anyway, which means United will be happy to cut their losses on him.
Only way he stays at the club beyond next summer is if he comes out of nowhere, gets 20 league goals, and makes himself undeniable, a scenario which is unlikely looking at his career history till this point.