Loan signing Ryan Tunnicliffe is out to impress new Manchester United boss David Moyes — by helping to turn Ipswich into Championship challengers.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who will be at Portman Road until January, has certainly not given up on an Old Trafford future.
He joined the United academy at the age of nine, signed his first pro contract at 17 and Town will be his third loan club following stints at Peterborough and Barnsley in the past two seasons.
So the Championship is nothing new to Tunnicliffe, who said: "I think I’ve settled in very well. It’s a great set of lads — I worked that out as soon as I came down here — and obviously I knew Paul Taylor from Peterborough. It was good to see a friendly face straight away and he has helped me to settle in.
"My previous loan spells made me grow up more. I was only 18 when I went to Peterborough and it’s a higher standard of football than playing in the United youth or reserve team, so it made me a man and I became a better player.”
Several second tier clubs were keen to recruit Tunnicliffe on a temporary basis but in the end Town beat Brighton for his signature.
He added: "Brighton made a bid and there were a few others interested but when my agent told me about Ipswich and Mick McCarthy this was my only choice.
"The gaffer has been an international manager and in the Premiership so he’s been there and done it, plus it’s a big club. I just wanted to come and work under him really.”
United are keen for youngsters to go out on loan to gain valuable experience, a policy that has benefited current first team stars Tom Cleverley and Jonny Evans, and has been in place long enough to have helped launch David Beckham into the big-time via Preston North End back in 1995.
Tunnicliffe said: "I want to play at the highest level I can and if that means United in the Premiership I would love that because I’m a United fan and a local boy.
"The new boss has come in and said he will be looking to youth and not changing any of the policies of the club. I’ve seen plenty of lads do it — Danny Welbeck is only two or three years older than me — and that spurs me on to believe it can be done.
"This loan move is important to me. I’m not just ready to go, I’m raring to go. I want to play as many games as possible and help Ipswich towards the top end of the Championship. It’s about showing I’m good enough and then hopefully forcing my way into David Moyes’s plans when I return to United.”