Agent confirmed : Macheda on loan

Manchester United have confirmed to Federico Macheda's agent that the striker is likely to be sent on loan in January, in order to build up game time and be able to compete with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez for a starting spot on the squad.

Macheda has featured just five times for Sir Alex Ferguson's first team squad this season, scoring a goal in the club's shock loss to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup.

Ferguson admitted at the time that the youngsters at United need to get some more game time in the second half of the season, and hinted that he would consider sending the likes of Macheda, Ravel Morrison and Ezekiel Fryers out to other clubs in January.