After exiting the Carling Cup at the hands of Chelsea last week, it was only really a matter of time before a handful of Manchester United’s talented young players were linked with loan moves.

On Tuesday it was confirmed that Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane would be heading out on loan to Nigel Pearson’s Championship promotion-chasers Leicester City for a month.

The move represent a chance for the duo to gain vital first-team experience to add to their resumes, which will enable them to come back to Old Trafford stronger players more confident in their ability.

In truth those moves didn’t really come as a surprise. Lingard has been performing well in the reserves for some time as has Keane who has made two first-team appearances this season, the last of those coming at Stamford Bridge where he formed an excellent partnership with Scott Wootton against an experienced and rampant Chelsea attack.

One youngster who would certainly benefit from a loan move is Nick Powell who despite making three appearances for the club since joining from Crewe in the summer faces a tough challenge every week to play let alone get on the bench.

Of course there’s no need to panic. Powell after all is only 18 and its probably best that he is involved with the first-team squad the whole season. After all what better place would there be for him to train with the best players in the world under the best manager in the world. Long-term that can only be good for him, right?

Maybe not, maybe after his bright performances so far it would be great to send him out on loan – either for a month or two – now, to a Championship side. Yes Powell has been playing well in the reserves, building up an understanding on the pitch with some of our younger players which is a good thing, but he and the team in the long-run will gain more if he is playing first-team football.

Of course there’s still a good chance that he’ll get some game-time in the coming months, especially around the hectic festive-period which can be a testing time for any squad, where injuries can so easily be picked up.

Powell’s probably a dead-certainty to make his Champions League debut this month at home to Cluj whether United seal their qualification through to the Last 16 or not and that will be another great opportunity for him to sample European football and learn from the experience.

He probably won’t get loaned out so soon after joining the club but in an ideal world wouldn’t Sir Alex Ferguson want to see him progress elsewhere in the style and manner that Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck did so well whilst out on loan in the 2010/11 season?

It’s just a thought. Obviously as with all loan-deals, the player must always go to the best club which will provide them the best platform to perform on, to help them improve their game,  otherwise any move will be a waste of time for all parties involved.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87