MANCHESTER UNITED teenager Ethan Laird has joined MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season.
The talented defender will bid to secure regular football with the League One club.
The 19-year-old full-back has played two games for United which were both in the Europa League last season.
England Under-19 defender Laird was promoted to first-team training last summer after a number of injuries at Old Trafford.
Laird was rewarded with a new contract last year which runs until 2023, with the option of extending the deal by another season.
The academy graduate has been with United since the age of 10 and is highly rated by the Red Devils.
Laird will gain valuable experience playing for MK Dons for the remainder of this season.
The pacy defender told the MK Dons website: “I need to work my way into the team and get to know the lads, but I want to make as much of an impact as I can while I’m here. That’s something I’ll always hold myself too – how can I affect my teammates and the club in a positive way.
“This is the perfect place for me to continue developing, with the way the team play.
“They are aggressive, they like to get in behind and they leave it all out on the pitch and that’s my idea of football.”
Laird started on the bench for MK Dons’ FA Cup third round tie at Premier League side Burnley this afternoon.
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His league debut is likely to come at promotion challengers Peterborough next Saturday.
MK Dons manager Russell Martin said: “Ethan is someone with real quality and we’re really pleased to be able to bring him in. He’s chosen to come here over a number of options, which is brilliant for us.
“He’s very explosive but with lots of quality on the ball and he can play in a couple of positions in defence or further forward, which gives us some more versatility.”
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