Derby County have agreed a deal to sign promising Manchester United and England Under 21 international striker James Wilson on loan until the end of the 2016/17 season.

Wilson, who turns 21 in December, will link up with Nigel Pearson’s squad in the coming days.





Competing with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for a starting place in Jose Mourinho’s frontline at Old Trafford, a season-long loan with the Rams is viewed as the important next stage of Wilson’s development.







A graduate of Manchester United’s famed Academy, the Staffordshire-born player has made 20 first-team appearances for the Premier League giants.





He has scored four goals for United, three of which have been in the Premier League with the other coming in the FA Cup.







Wilson spent six months on loan at Sky Bet Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion last season and scored five times in 11 league starts for the Seagulls.





Manager Nigel Pearson said: “We’re delighted to have agreed to bring James Wilson the club on a season-long loan.





“I hope that this loan deal will prove to be mutually beneficial for all parties and I would like to place on record our thanks to Manchester United for allowing James to join us.





“He is an energetic player who will add to our existing attacking options.”





Wilson, after coming through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, made his professional debut towards the end of the 2013/14 season.





Named in the starting line-up by caretaker manager Ryan Giggs, following the departure of David Moyes, Wilson scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Hull City.





He featured 17 times in 2014/15 under Louis van Gaal, scoring in United’s 2-0 away win at Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League and their 3-0 FA Cup Fourth Round replay win over Cambridge United at Old Trafford.





Wilson made two appearances for United at the start of last season before heading out on loan to Brighton for the rest of the season in November 2015, shortly after signing a new contract until 2019, to gain more first-team experience.





Two of his five goals for the Seagulls ironically came against Derby, the 2-2 and 1-1 draws at the iPro Stadium and Amex Stadium respectively, before returning to Old Trafford.





Wilson has been capped at England at under 16, 19, 20 and 21 level and scored on his debut for the Under 21s in September last year against the USA.





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