Ethan Hamilton will spend the 2019/20 season on loan at Southend United, Manchester United have confirmed.
The 20-year-old midfielder gets another shot at League One football after impressing at Rochdale last season.
Hamilton joined Dale in the second half of the campaign, scoring four times in 14 appearances to play a key role in their survival.
The Scottish U19 international has ten goals and six assists in 73 appearances for United at youth level, and has made the first team bench on one occasion in the FA Cup in 2018.
On joining Southend, Hamilton explained why playing senior football this season was so important for his development.
He told the Southend website : “I needed to get out and play first team football to keep developing and moving forward and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be able to come to Southend and do that.
“League One is a great league and there’s loads of competition in it and I can’t wait to get going and working with the group.”
Expanding on the difference between League One and Premier League 2 football, Hamilton said last season's spell opened his eyes.
“It was different coming away from U23s football and it was a great experience for me, one that I really enjoyed," he added.
“I just want to play the best I can, give my all for the team and that’s what I want to do. I’m quite all action. I like to get around the pitch and affect the game the best I can.
“The games are coming thick and fast and hopefully we can get on a bit of a run and bounce into the next games.
“I’m ready and raring to go. I’ve been working hard and that win on Tuesday was great so hopefully we can carry that on into the next games.”
Hamilton joins Dean Henderson, Joel Pereira, Keiran O'Hara, Alex Fojticek, George Tanner and Aidan Barlow in securing loan moves this season.
