TOP STRIKER FROM MANCHESTER UNITED ACADEMY JOINS LEAGUE ONE SIDE ON LOAN DERBY COUNTY

This move to the League One club represents a step up for the Droylsden-born striker, given he spent the second half of last season in a lower division with Newport County.

McNeill featured 15 times for the South Wales outfit, scoring two goals – including his first in senior football, when he netted in a League Two win at Tranmere Rovers in March.

That stint added to the experience he gained with United last term, as he joined some of his 2022 FA Youth Cup-winning team-mates in becoming a regular starter for our Under-21s.

McNeill also made his senior debut for the Reds in 2022/23, as the first Academy player to achieve that landmark moment under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman brought him on as a replacement for Tyrell Malacia, towards the end of our Europa League home game against Real Sociedad.

The teenager subsequently played 45 minutes of a winter friendly against Cadiz in Spain, and more recently appeared as a substitute in the Tour 2023 match against Wrexham in San Diego.

His 2023/24 campaign began with three appearances for our Under-21s, including the Premier League 2 games against Crystal Palace and Leeds United. McNeill scored an injury-time goal in the latter and also netted in the penalty-shootout victory over Stockport County in the EFL Trophy last week.

McNeill will now hope to add to those goals by scoring for Stevenage. He arrives at the Hertfordshire club ahead of their away trip to Leyton Orient, as the fifth-placed side look to build on a promising start in which they have taken 10 points from a possible 15.

However, Stevenage’s Carabao Cup campaign ended earlier this week when they lost to Exeter City on penalties, having shocked Watford with a shootout win in the previous round.

Everyone at United would like to wish Charlie and his loan club the best of luck for the rest of the season