Boss Mick McCarthy says Blues defender Freddie Veseli will learn vital lessons during his loan spell at Bury that he won’t have picked up in his time with either the Manchester City or Manchester United academies.
Former Swiss U21 international Veseli joined the Blues on a two-year deal following his release by United last summer, 18 months after leaving City’s youth set-up to join their rivals.
Since putting pen to paper at Portman Road, the 21-year-old’s only Town appearance came in the 2-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Stevenage in August.
McCarthy says Veseli will benefit from his month with the League Two club: "David Flitcroft rang me up and he’s going play him at right-back or right wing-back, in his proper position. He just needs games.
"He’s missed out on playing rough and tumble, scrappy Football League matches. Playing at Manchester United in their U21s, you’d have the ball for 60 per cent of the time, probably.
"I think that’s maybe what he’s been used to. He’s a good footballer. It’s the games like the one against Charlton the other night and the one at Bournemouth where it’s backs against the wall, defending, heading and tackling and being in your position where you actually learn.”
He says there are aspects of the game which can only be picked up through playing competitive first team matches: "You get coached in the U21s and through the academy, but that’s where you start earning your living.
"The same with Elliott Hewitt [on loan at Gillingham], you’re playing against more physical players, a more physical approach, there’s no 50/50s where somebody might just let someone have it.
"You saw them here the other night, sliding off the pitch, some great tackles. It was a fabulous game considering the conditions. That is the level they have got to get to, the pair of them.”
Veseli’s only appearance for the Shakers so far was their 3-0 New Year’s Day victory at Hartlepool, while Hewitt is yet to add to the three games he played for the Gills in November since returning to the Priestfield Stadium having recovered from his ankle injury.
Striker Jack Marriott is also with the League One side and is still to make his debut having been an unused sub in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Wolves.
Meanwhile, Wolves’ interest in loaning Blues skipper Carlos Edwards is understood to have cooled with another winger, Derby’s Michael Jacobs, who has been on loan at Molineux, signing on a permanent basis.
Photo: ITFC