Hot Prospects Jet off to Belgium

Hot Prospect
By Chris O'Brien
January 16 2006

Daniel Simpson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, two of United's brightest prospects, have joined four fellow team-mates on loan at Royal Antwerp. The duo are likely to enjoy plenty of first-team opportunities in Belgium.

Sir Alex Ferguson has sent another two Manchester United youngsters to Belgium to earn first-team honours with 'link-up' club Royal Antwerp.

Daniel Simpson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, both 19-years-of-age, have been shipped out to the continent in a move that will give both players the chance to impress members of the Old Trafford coaching team in regular senior action.

Salford-born Simpson is a regular in the United reserve's backline. He is yet to really push for a first-team place and this loan move, which will last for the remainder of the campaign, is a massive opportunity for the defender to prove his worth to the Manchester United squad.

Striker Ebanks-Blake is highly-rated and netted for the first-team in his first MUFC start; a 4-1 drubbing of Barnet at Old Trafford. He has just 95 minutes of action for United under his belt, but is regularly on the scoresheet for the reserves and promises to be a deadly attacking threat at Antwerp.

The duo join Red Devil starlets Lee Martin, Adam Eckersley, Dong Fangzhou and Ritchie Jones at Antwerp.