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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Alvaro Fernandez copies Luke Shaw as Erik ten Hag told he has new Manchester United leader

Manchester United have plenty to contend with at first-team level right now while several talented young players continue to underline their development away from Old Trafford.

After chalking up another win in the Premier League against strugglers Everton this Saturday lunchtime, Erik ten Hag and his squad are gearing up to resume their Europa League quest. However, the Dutchman can also afford to have one eye on how the next generation are doing.

Here's our round-up after several loanees found themselves in action over the Easter schedule;

READ MORE: Casemiro issue signals transfer priority

Dishon Bernard - Portsmouth

An unused substitute as Portsmouth were held to a goalless draw by relegation-threatened Morecambe at their Fratton Park stadium. Centre-back Bernard, 22, has only started once since February.

Amad Diallo - Sunderland

Sunderland revived their play-off ambitions with a narrow victory over Cardiff City on Monday afternoon. In-form Diallo started that game after scoring 11 goals this season - including three in his last four matches - but was not required to make a telling impact despite playing 90 minutes here.

Alvaro Fernandez - Preston

Included on the team sheet as Preston welcomed Reading to Deepdale on Monday afternoon. After picking up four wins in their last five Championship games, the Lancashire side were at it again with a late winner to uphold their play-off charge - while Fernandez had a hand in the opener.

It was his assist for Thomas Cannon that helped settle the scores to move Preston level on points with sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers, although they have played a game less. It was Fernandez's fourth assist for the club and that came via an overlapping run and cross from the left wing-back position.

Preston won 2-1 with a 92nd-minute winner from Brad Potts.

Ethan Galbraith - Salford City

Galbraith started in the number 10 position against AFC Wimbledon, but the Academy playmaker lasted only 45 minutes as he was replaced by Matt Smith at half-time with the Ammies trailing. In his absence, there was some last-gasp drama with Callum Hendry scoring twice in added-time to complete the turnaround, and a 3-2 win, even after missing a penalty in the 92nd minute!

Ethan Laird - QPR

Another player who was denied game-time in what ended up being a pulsating draw between West Brom and QPR as Laird watched that action unfold from the dugout. QPR are two points clear of the drop zone as they continue to battle against relegation.

Charlie McNeill - Newport County

McNeill was close-by on Easter Monday as he, once again, found himself in the starting XI against Stockport County at Edgeley Park. However, there was precious little for the young forward or his Newport teammates to celebrate as they were thumped 4-0 by the League Two promotion hopefuls, who moved up to third place following what was a one-sided contest.

Hannibal Mejbri - Birmingham City

Honours were even at St. Andrews as Birmingham took on Stoke City in a dead-rubber. Hannibal was unable to add to his 33 appearances this season, though, and has not started for a month.

Maxi Oyedele - Altrincham

Despite starting on the bench for Altrincham in their match with neighbours Oldham Athletic on Good Friday, it ended up being a game to remember for the teenager. Oyedele scored a sensational volley - his third goal in nine National League appearances so far this season - to help earn his loan club a point.

That led to some rather high praise from Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson. He told the club website: "Maxi was inspirational when he came on in terms of driving us forward, organising people.

"Great leadership qualities for an 18-year-old, brilliant to see. He galvanised us. Maxi was outstanding."

Oyedele was joined by fellow Academy player Joe Hugill in their starting XI on Easter Monday, but Altrincham went down 1-0 against Gateshead. Sonny Aljofree did not feature.

Charlie Savage - Forest Green

Relegation is staring Forest Green in the face after defeat to Wycombe Wanderers and they need to win all five of their remaining games to have any chance of staying up. Savage was, once again, named on the team sheet before Myles Peart-Harris came on to replace him after 64 minutes.

Savage, 19, made his tenth appearance at Adams Park and has now totted-up 707 minutes all-told.

Shola Shoretire - Bolton Wanderers

Shoretire got 59 minutes under his belt as Bolton underlined their play-off charge in League One with a point against Cambridge United on Monday afternoon. It was shortly after Shoretire was replaced in a triple change that Ian Evatt's men went ahead through Declan John, but Cambridge ultimately hit back.

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