Manchester United Under-21 players Sam Mather and Sam Murray have joined Dale until the end of the season.
The Red Devils Academy players have linked up with Jimmy McNulty’s side as part of an innovative loan scheme designed by United’s Academy coaches.
The scheme allows players to benefit from the experience and challenges of non-league football, intermittently throughout the remainder of the season, whilst also having the opportunity to train and play matches with United’s Academy.
The Head Coach commented: “We’re delighted to welcome the two players into our squad.
“It’s a real bespoke loan experience that Manchester United have put together, to help their young stars benefit from experiencing first team football.
“With where we’re at numbers-wise, the two players will be a definite help to us, as much as we’ll be a help to them.
“We won’t have access to those players all of the time, that will be at United’s control, which it should be.
“Initiatives like these are really useful for clubs in situations like us, whereby we are extremely tight on numbers.
“We’ve had to be incredibly flexible with guys we do have so far, in terms of playing players out of position, who have done an amazing job. Any niche initiatives from big clubs like this, can only be helpful us.”
Mather is a winger, comfortable on both sides, but can also play through the centre.
The Salford-born footballer scored four times against Norwich City on Saturday in United’s Under-21s Premier League 2 game. He netted a hat-trick within 26 minutes, adding his fourth in the second half.
An Old Trafford win ✔️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 27, 2024
Four goals for Sam Mather ✔️
Saturday was a positive day for our U21s 👏#MUFC || #MUAcademy
They both were part of the 2021/22 squad that lifted the FA Youth Cup, following a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest in the final.
Murray, who is a full-back, provided an assist in that final and has been a part of the United set-up since joining at Under-15 level. The full-back played in all of United’s games in the run-up to that final, and is now a regular for their Under-21 side.
Welcome, lads!
