Zidane Iqbal sends message to Ten Hag as he plans to break into Man Utd team

Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal has said it's too early to consider a loan move after being given a first-team chance by Erik ten Hag.

Iqbal was handed his senior debut by Ralf Rangnick last season, playing against Young Boys in the Champions League, and followed it up with a first senior international call-up with Iraq. He was one of a number of academy talents taken on United's pre-season tour by new manager Ten Hag and has already impressed the Dutchman since linking up with the senior players in the squad.

The midfielder turned 19 in April and has been linked with a loan move to get a taste of competitive football at a senior club level. However, with United relatively light in midfield, he could yet have a bigger part to play at Old Trafford than first thought.

"I am not sure," Iqbal said of a loan exit, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. "If an opportunity came up to go out on loan, I would weigh up the pros and cons.

"Right now it is too early to say. See what the future holds," he added, before stressing how exciting it has been for him to represent the club he supported as a child.

"It's the best feeling [to be playing]. I have grown up loving this club," the teenager said. "I have played here since I was eight or nine.

"To play in front of 90,000 people. It is something I dreamed of. To play here and against Liverpool, even in the Champions League. It is hard to describe."

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Iqbal played the second half of United's pre-season victory over Liverpool before also featuring as Ten Hag's team beat Melbourne Victory 4-1. While other youngsters have benefited from loan exits - notably, James Garner thrived with Nottingham Forest last season - the 19-year-old's involvement might depend on the club's summer transfer business.

United have been pursuing Frenkie de Jong for much of the summer, but a deal for the Dutchman is looking less and less likely. Most recently, reports from Spain suggest the former Ajax man would consider a Bayern Munich move but is not looking for a Premier League switch.

A number of squad members, including Iqbal, will have opportunities to further impress Ten Hag before United kick off their Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 6. The Red Devils have games in Australia against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa before facing Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano back in Europe.