Sean McGinty sees the loan from Manchester United to Oxford United as a “step up” for his career.
The 18-year-old has been training with the U’s for several weeks, but his six-month move from Old Trafford does not start until today.
McGinty’s only experience of senior football came in a four-game spell in npower League Two with Morecambe last season, which was cut short by a dislocated shoulder in March.
The rest of his football has come in Manchester United’s youth teams and reserves.
But he views the prospect of first-team football with Oxford as preferable.
He said: “To be fair I do see it as a bit of a step up because playing in the reserve team isn’t proper football really.
“You’re playing against lads your age and you may get a few players that are a bit older than you.
“But playing against men at the age of 18 is a very hard thing to do and I think you gain more experience out of it.
“Obviously in training here there are people with a vast amount of experience, so I can learn off people like Michael Duberry to make me improve as a player.”
The left back, who can also play at centre half, will feature today against Cardiff City. McGinty got his first taste of the Kassam Stadium in the 1-0 win against West Ham last month and is keen for more of the same.
He said: “I was taking in the crowd and playing against people like Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan.
“It was a great experience, I’ve never played against guys like that before, so even that as my first game was good and I want more of that.”
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