Manchester United youngster Charlie McNeill set for Stevenage loan move

Manchester United youngster Charlie McNeill is on the verge of a season-long loan move to League One side Stevenage.

McNeill will step up a division, having spent the second half of last season playing for Newport County in League Two, and there was always a desire to be tested at a new level this term.

The 19-year-old was the subject of interest from several clubs in League One, but it was Stevenage who made the strongest case to sign the striker and who it was felt would offer the most first-team opportunities in what is a key year for his development.

The former Manchester City youngster, who returned to United in 2020 for £750,000, scored twice in 20 League Two games for Newport in 2022/23, but it was felt he benefited significantly from a first taste of senior football.

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McNeill was an academy hotshot who netted more than 600 goals during his time at City, having initially switched to their academy from United in 2014. But the United fan has since returned to his boyhood club and was keen to find a club this season that would again offer him significant first-team opportunities.

Stevenage have been the surprise package in League One so far this season, sitting fifth in the table under the fiery and charismatic Steve Evans.

McNeill was keen to make the switch to Broadhall Way, rather than having another season playing for United's under-21s, and has noted the success of strikers who gained experience in the EFL before breaking through, such as Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. He featured for United's under-21s against Stockport County in the EFL Trophy last week before deciding on where his