Having played the final eight minutes of United’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal and the first-half of the Capital One Cup loss to Middlesbrough, Wilson has been sent out on loan with Van Gaal clearly unimpressed with his performances this season.
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Manchester United have lost another attacking option after allowing striker James Wilson join Championship contenders Brighton and Hove Albion until the end of the season.
Despite United’s lack of strikers, Wilson has featured only twice for the first team this season and Van Gaal chose to start Memphis Depay up front against Watford on Saturday with both Rooney and Martial out.
Wilson has been with Manchester United since the age of seven and has represented England at every level from under 16 to under 21.
The 19-year-old signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League club in September, with the option of an additional year.
It underlines just how far Wilson’s stock has fallen since the summer when he was linked with loan moves to Newcastle, West Brom and Aston Villa.
A number of clubs were understood to be in for Wilson on emergency loan deadline day but Brighton, now second in the Championship with only Hull City above them by virtue of a better goal difference, won the race for his signature.
The likes of Martial and Rooney have struggled in and around the box and Wilson was expected to be an impact player for the Red Devils this season.
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Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is full of admiration for the youngster after describing him as one of the “brightest young English prospects”.
