Man Utd duo James Garner and Ethan Laird on course for Premier League promotion double

United’s youngsters are on loan at Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth respectively and both are looking towards promotion to the top flight as we enter the final stages of the season

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Manchester United’s bid to qualify for the Champions League next season seems all but over.

3-1 away defeat on Saturday arsenal has her climb a mountain to usurp both the Gunners and the Gunners Tottenham to fourth place. Caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick gave a somber reply when asked after the game about his hopes of qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition next season.

The German said: “I’m pretty sure (they’re over). For me it wasn’t very likely even before the game but after today’s result it’s gone, yes.”

The picture is anything but rosy Old Trafford, a group of players away from the club and gaining important experience. Here we look at the players on loan and see how they fared over the weekend.

James Garner

The United midfielder played the full 90 minutes as Nottingham Forest came within a point of victory championship play-off spot. Forest narrowly edged out Peterborough United to emerge 1-0 winners – a result that confirmed Posh’s relegation after just one season.

Garner drew attention to himself on his second loan spell at the City Ground this season and he kept Steve Cooper’s side going well against Peterborough.

The 21-year-old made three key passes but also fulfilled his defensive duties, with four tackles and a clearance showing a willingness and desire to come back and save a goal. He hopes to impress on Tuesday when Forest is already promoted Fulham.

Ethan Laird

Laird has had a strange time since trading Swansea for Swansea Bournemouth in the second half of the season.

The loan move should be the catalyst for Laird’s efforts to step up a notch at a team aiming for automatic promotion. But over Easter he was brought into the starting XI and has now played the last three games. On Saturday, Laird played the full 90 as the Cherries drew 1-1 with leaders Fulham. He touched the ball 76 times in the stalemate, contributed four tackles and was fouled four times by opposing players.

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Scott Parker recently said he was happy Laird had to wait so long for his chance.

He said: “Why I’m happy for him is because he’s had it pretty tough, to be honest. He came into the building, was injured, went on a long hiatus.

“He then had a hard time getting into the team and even the team. I was always in close dialogue with him, explaining to him, being very honest with him about what he needed to do, what he needed to bring and how he needed to commit, to get on the team. And he did everything and he earned his right to be on the team. He waited a moment.

Di’Shon Bernard

Defender Bernard was with Hull City’s team earlier in the season but was left on the bench again as an unused substitute on Saturday their convincing 3-0 win over Reading.

He has actually watched nine of the last ten games unused, with his only appearance in that time being a nine-minute cameo as a substitute in a win cardiff.

Ethan Galbraith

Midfielder Galbraith, like Bernard, has hardly played in recent months and was also an unused substitute in Doncaster’s 2-0 win against Burton Albion. That win, combined with other results, means the Rovers will see another day in their battle to stay in League One.

Galbraith could be back with the team for the final game of the season when Doncaster travel to Oxford.

Nathan Bishop

Goalkeeper Bishop kept his 13th clean sheet of the season as Mansfield beat Crawley 2-0 at home.

The result put Nigel Clough’s side in sixth place and they still have slim hopes of sealing an automatic League Two promotion spot with one game left. Bishop didn’t have a single shot on goal in what was an extremely quiet afternoon for the 22-year-old.

Reece Devine

Defender Devine watched his temporary employer Walsall seal a derby win over Port Vale. The Saddlers won 2-0 but it wasn’t a very happy day for Devine, who was substituted at half-time after struggling to assert himself in the competition.