Fit-again Mitchell attracting interest after leaving Manchester United

Ex-hearts wing-back Demetri Mitchell is determined to make up for lost time after misfortune and bad timing cost the Manchester United academy graduate 18 months of his career and the chance to impress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 23-year-old’s long association with the Old Trafford giants ended this summer, having progressed through the ranks to make his senior debut on the final day of the 2016-17 league season.

Mitchell impressed against Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, and was selected by Jose Mourinho for that summer’s pre-season tour to the USA, but it proved his only competitive appearance for United.

The wing-back spent two spells on loan at Hearts, only for a meniscus injury in February 2019 to lay him low for a long period and the coronavirus pandemic to prolong his wait for action.

“It’s been a tough 18 months but I’ve worked hard through it,” said Mitchell, inset. “Right now after the lockdown, I think the little break has given me a bit of time to relax the body. I’ve been training for about eight weeks and feeling really good.

“It’s been 18 months without a game, but I was back fit again in February.” Mitchell says he “could have easily lost my head” during the period when lockdown meant he missed the chance to go out on loan, yet he maintained focus and is now looking to find a new club.

He has been working with a personal physio and doing one-to-one sessions with exwigan boss Gary Caldwell and is attracting interest from clubs, including Sunderland and Luton.

“I am 23 now, it’s time to move on and get more firstteam football,” he added.