FEEL THE LOVE
Donald seeking breakthrough at Manchester United and fast-track promotion with Scots
AT the age of 21, Donald Love is close to becoming a rare breed. A Scottish international in the Manchester United first team.
Rochdale-born Love made his debut as a 37th-minute substitute for the injured Matteo Darmian in a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at the weekend. A first start for the 250th graduate of United’s youth academy could come in the Europa League against FC Midtjylland this evening.
Lou Macari can remember a time when Scots starting games for Manchester United was not unusual. Like Darren Fletcher before him, Love is an exception in the modern age. Not the rule.
‘I go back to my days and the number of Scottish players was incredible,’ says MUTV analyst Macari. ‘The kids nowadays don’t realise that every team — and I mean every team — had four or five Scottish players.
‘So it is good to see a youngster working his way through the various levels and eventually getting his reward. I say getting his reward because Donald is a nice lad, which is a major, major thing now.
‘Forget about footballing ability, because I have seen lots of lads with exceptional football ability. And they blow it because their characters were, let’s say, questionable.
‘But there is no question about this kid. He is a nice lad, sensible, focused. And he looks the type who will be determined to progress.
‘In my days with Jock Stein at Celtic you got a little sniff of the glory and he didn’t let you get carried away. But it has all changed now.
‘Kids get a game in the first team now and the player can get carried away a little bit. Especially if their advisor is telling them they have made it. Well, they have far from made it. Especially at a club like Manchester United.’
Love joined United at the age of seven and qualifies for Scotland via a grandmother from Stranraer. Capped at Under-17, U-19 and U-21 level, former United academy chief Brian McClair, now the SFA performance director, moved last week to assure people the defender is committed to the first-team cause.
Memories of striker Sam Gallagher remain fresh. The Southampton forward switched allegiance to England following a taste of firstteam football in 2014. The worry Love might do the same is obvious. Gordon Strachan could secure the right-back’s services with a cap for the senior team in the forthcoming friendlies with the Czech Republic and Denmark.
Macari believes Love is not the type to have his head turned. He would rather he played for Scotland because he was genuinely ready.
‘If I was the manager of Manchester United I wouldn’t like that to happen,’ Macari told Sportsmail. ‘Donald would want it to happen. His parents would want it to happen.
‘But, given time, it might happen because he is good enough and f ocused enough and sensible enough. Because he was ready.
‘If England had the chance of snapping him up and he wanted to play for England, then let him go.
‘ I would rather he played for Scotland because he wanted to.’
McClair believes he does. With Ricky Sbragia, Scotland’s Under-21 coach, the former Old Trafford academy chief has watched Love nurture and develop.
Old Trafford youth players find themselves under more scrutiny than most this week.
Nicky Butt has been appointed to McClair’s old job at a time when concern is growing over the lack of academy prospects.
The Busby Babes and the class of ’92 are now a distant memory.
Love, then, is being watched closely by club and country to see if he is as good as people clearly hope. Macari has seen enough to think he could be. McClair, meanwhile, identifies a versatility which could be a blessing for an ageing Scotland team.
‘With the injuries at United just now, Donald has a chance of getting more games under his belt,’ says the SFA chief. ‘I’m sure that is something Gordon will be keeping an eye on.’
Nevertheless, Love has played precious little first-team football. He managed eight appearances during an injury-blighted loan at Wigan. But Macari believes he is due a chance to take the next step.
To challenge for a starting place in the United top team.
‘I do reserve games for MUTV and I have watched his progress,’ he said. ‘And it is progress because he has come from the 17s and 18s and Under-21s and eventually got in that first-team squad.
‘I think everyone would accept at this moment in time they are stretched a little bit and calling on one or two youngsters, but that doesn’t take away from the fact he has progressed.
‘In this day and age, that’s what it’s all about for youngsters. Very few are doing it. He got on against Sunderland, so it’s potentially a big night in Denmark now.’
“He looks type determined to make progress”