Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley is determined to put what he learned from Ruud van Nistelrooy into practice during his loan spell at Walsall.

The League Two title hopefuls announced the signing of the United striker on Saturday morning and he made his debut as a second half substitute later in the day in a 3-0 defeat to Bradford City at Valley Parade.

Wheatley's temporary switch to the Bescot Stadium marks his first loan spell of his career. The 19-year-old has made four substitute appearances for United, including one earlier this season, but knew that leaving on loan would give him his best chance of taking his development to the next level.

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A regular around the first-team towards the end of last season and a member of the squad that travelled to the United States in pre-season, the striker learned a lot from the senior players within the squad and former United assistant boss Van Nistelrooy, who returned to the club for a brief period earlier this season.

"As you are coming up, you are looking to impress and express yourself, but you are also looking to get little bits off other players," Wheatley told Walsall's YouTube channel. "I think one of the main ones was when Ruud was at the club.

"I was saying quite a lot that I could not think of anyone else better to learn from. I am always trying to try and get any little bits from any of the senior players."

Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford in early-July as part of the club's decision to rebuild former manager Erik ten Hag's coaching team.

"I felt as though once we heard the news that he was coming in, that was sort of it for me," Wheatley continued. "A couple of academy coaches were telling me that when I was with them [the first-team], I had just got to try and learn as much as possible, but I already had that in my head.

"Whilst he was there, every session I was trying to pick up bits from him, just asking questions to help my development."

Outlining what he wants to take from his loan spell at Walsall, the striker concluded: "I think it is just the transition from Under-21s football to men's football. They [United] just want me to express myself, be who I am and I think this club is a good club to come to do that.

"I think it is good to set little targets but the main thing is to take each day as it comes, really. I want to impress in training and then hopefully getting my opportunities in matches and then taking them."