By Joe Ellis

9th Sep, 2022 | 4:05pm

View: Charlie McNeill needs more than a few minutes from Manchester United

Manchester United youngster Charlie McNeill came off the bench for his senior debut in the 1-0 Europa League loss against Real Sociedad.

Brace Mendez scored the only goal of the game after a controversial penalty was given before McNeill entered the fray in place of Tyrell Malacia late in the game.

In the few minutes he was on the pitch, he hardly touched the ball as United failed to find a breakthrough to level scores in their first group stage game of the competition.

And it would be very unfair to judge the 19-year-old on just those few moments when his side were up against it because there was little he could really do.

He now needs to be getting minutes out on loan ideally if he is going to progress to the next level in terms of physicality and tactical nouse that he will require to become a regular at Old Trafford.

Unfortunately for him, the chance to leave right now has passed and he will have to rely on regular starts for the Under-21s side to keep himself match sharp with the odd appearance in Europe or the Carabao Cup to aid his progression.

Erik Ten Hag can’t expect his most promising starlets to progress if he only gives them the odd appearance off the bench so he has really missed a trick in not sending some of them out on loan.

Alejandro Garnacho got a bit more time on the field and definitely created a buzz around Old Trafford whenever he got on the ball but his fellow teenage teammate couldn’t get the same treatment.

A January loan to someone in the Football League would be an ideal scenario for McNeill providing he is bang in form for the Red Devils’ youth sides.

In other Manchester United news, these two youngsters have been shunned back to the Under-21s dressing room after a late wave of senior signings.