David Artell has always been an advocate of young players going out on loan to gain competitive experience. The Alex boss says it is important for them to learn about different dressing room cultures, coaching ideas and understand the responsibility of playing for three points each week.
Artell is quick to offer players out on loan if he feels they will benefit from a step up from Under-23s football. He has already allowed the likes of Lewis Reilly, Owen Dale, Will Jaaskelainen and Billy Sass-Davies move out on loan this season.
Dale, 20, is now back with the Alex after a successful time at Altrincham and Artell says that the experience will have done the winger a world of good in terms of his development.
David told the club’s official website: “It’s been good for Owen. He needed toughening up.
“People think I mean getting kicked up in the air by that, and that’s part of it. But it’s also learning to play Saturday–Tuesday.
“We’ve seen players in our first team now who couldn’t play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday not long ago. Owen has done that in someone’s first team now.
“Phil (Parkinson) has been brilliant with him, and it’s helped Owen.
“He scored an absolute cracker for the under 23s on Friday, then he got walloped by George (Ray) in training on Monday.
The boss added: “Twelve months ago he’d have rolled around the floor and gone in. But he just got up – it’s a real positive mindset he’s learned from being elsewhere.”