Cambridge United boss Neil Harris says he will have a better idea in the next month if a loan is the best move for fit-again forward Glenn McConnell.
Cambridge United boss Neil Harris says he is "open-minded" whether to send young forward Glenn McConnell out on loan as he continues his comeback from injury.
The 20-year-old's career has been hit by fitness problems that have limited him to 10 appearances for the U's since making his debut in August 2023.
McConnell missed most of the rest of that season after damaging ankle ligaments.
Since then, he has worked his way back to fitness and went out on loan to National League South side Chelmsford City in the first half of last term, featuring six times.
He had only made one appearance this season - in the Carabao Cup in August - before scoring on his return in the 3-1 Vertu Trophy win over Luton on Tuesday.
"There's no plan on a specific date for when he might go out on loan," Harris told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
- Managerless Luton lose, Leeds thrashed in EFL Trophy
- Cambridge midfielder McConnell signs three-year deal
Harris added that McConnell might have "earned the right" to be included in the squad for Saturday's League Two game with struggling Shrewsbury Town.
"We've got a lot of fixtures in the next few weeks, there's a lot of football for Glenn to play," Harris said.
Harris hopes that, with a number of under-21 games and other warm-up matches, alongside the league and Vertu Trophy ties coming up over the next few weeks, the club will be better placed to make a decision over McConnell's next step.
"If we get through that period, and hopefully he's affecting the first team, I think we're really in a position to assess where Glenn's at," Harris said.
"If he's gone down the route of under-21 football, he's played seven, eight, nine games by the start of November which will be really good for a man who's not played a lot in the last three years.
"By then, we'll be a lot more confident of either putting him near our first team regularly or letting him go out for a month and play some football in the National League.
"So we're really open-minded but we're doing the right thing by Glenn. If we were in any doubt, we saw the rewards on Tuesday with a brilliant performance and great goal."
Category: General Sports
