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.”