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Epic · 1st August 2005, 15:56

Eagles Tipped To Learn From Owls Spell

Reserves boss Ricky Sbragia is confident Chris Eagles will benefit from his five-month loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

The 19-year-old winger has joined Paul Sturrock's Owls until the end of the year, and Sbragia feels regular first-team action will do Eagles no harm at all.

Ricky told ManUtd.com: "I think it'll be a good football education for him. In my opinion he's past the Reserves now, he needs to play a higher standard of football.

"It'd be nice if he'd gone to the Premiership but that didn't happen, but I think he'll play more Championship games and that's important for him.

"It's another level and another way of football. He's going to play in their first-team, which is important for us, and for him to play that standard of football is good for his education."

Sbragia is hoping Eagles will follow the lead of fellow youngster Kieran Richardson, who has forced himself into Sir Alex Ferguson's plans after a successful spell at West Brom towards the end of last season.

Ricky said: "You'd hope maybe Chris and Jonathan [Spector, who is on a season-long loan at Charlton] replicate the Kieran Richardson situation. They'll get a taste of action and they'll want more.

"I think they can play too much in the Reserves and get a bit stale. Jonathan had Reserve football at the back end of last season and he's past that stage now, he has to play.

"You'd hope maybe he'll learn from the Charlton experience, and Chris from Sheffield Wednesday, and then come back hungrier. Obviously they'll get more games under their belt and they'll be looking to push into the first-team. Time will tell for them."

With a glut of talent rising through the United ranks, Sbragia admitted that loan spells are often the answer for young players who are in a limbo state between Reserve and first-team football.

He said: "I think once you've had a taste of Reserve football you're ready for the change and a new step up. It's difficult to get in the first team and to play regularly.

"I think Darren Fletcher's the last one to really bridge that gap and the thinking now is that if they don't make the step up then they need to go out on loan. I think it's important to go out and learn a little bit.

"Maybe we spoil them here a little bit with the facilities, they need to go out and see the other side of football. The important thing for me though is that they go out and play first-team football."

1st August 2005, 15:56	#47 (permalink)
Epic First Team Sub Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: no man's land Posts: 5,839	Eagles Tipped To Learn From Owls Spell Reserves boss Ricky Sbragia is confident Chris Eagles will benefit from his five-month loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. The 19-year-old winger has joined Paul Sturrock's Owls until the end of the year, and Sbragia feels regular first-team action will do Eagles no harm at all. Ricky told ManUtd.com: "I think it'll be a good football education for him. In my opinion he's past the Reserves now, he needs to play a higher standard of football. "It'd be nice if he'd gone to the Premiership but that didn't happen, but I think he'll play more Championship games and that's important for him. "It's another level and another way of football. He's going to play in their first-team, which is important for us, and for him to play that standard of football is good for his education." Sbragia is hoping Eagles will follow the lead of fellow youngster Kieran Richardson, who has forced himself into Sir Alex Ferguson's plans after a successful spell at West Brom towards the end of last season. Ricky said: "You'd hope maybe Chris and Jonathan [Spector, who is on a season-long loan at Charlton] replicate the Kieran Richardson situation. They'll get a taste of action and they'll want more. "I think they can play too much in the Reserves and get a bit stale. Jonathan had Reserve football at the back end of last season and he's past that stage now, he has to play. "You'd hope maybe he'll learn from the Charlton experience, and Chris from Sheffield Wednesday, and then come back hungrier. Obviously they'll get more games under their belt and they'll be looking to push into the first-team. Time will tell for them." With a glut of talent rising through the United ranks, Sbragia admitted that loan spells are often the answer for young players who are in a limbo state between Reserve and first-team football. He said: "I think once you've had a taste of Reserve football you're ready for the change and a new step up. It's difficult to get in the first team and to play regularly. "I think Darren Fletcher's the last one to really bridge that gap and the thinking now is that if they don't make the step up then they need to go out on loan. I think it's important to go out and learn a little bit. "Maybe we spoil them here a little bit with the facilities, they need to go out and see the other side of football. The important thing for me though is that they go out and play first-team football."