United's assistant manager Ned Kelly, who spoke to the press this lunchtime, revealed why striker Deon Burton has gone out on loan.
The club announced this morning that Burton, 38, would be reunited with his former boss Russ Wilcox at League Two side York City on an initial month’s loan.The Jamaican international also has permission from the club to play for the Minstermen in the FA Cup in his stint at Bootham Crescent.
“He needs to get some football,” Ned declared.
“It’s to give him more minutes on the pitch. We’ve got a few strikers at this football club who are a little bit ahead of him and at Deon’s age, he obviously needs to play as much and as often as he possibly can.”
He added: “That was really just the thought process in allowing him to go up the road and get some first team fixtures under his belt.”
Since returning from injury, Burton has been limited to just substitute appearances, while he also got a good run out in the 6-0 reserve victory over Burton Albion earlier in the week.
The veteran forward played an hour in that game, scoring twice, with more minutes surely to follow under the care of Wilcox; who dips into his former team for the first time following his departure earlier in the month.
“It’s purely and simply just a short term thing at the moment,” he continued after being asked whether the deal could become a permanent one.
“That’s all it is and we’re expecting no further incomings or outgoings today (Thursday). I would be surprised if there were any further movements before the weekend’s game.”
He added: “The gaffer said a couple of weeks ago when we first came in that we would assess everybody here and get to know everybody properly, so there is nothing planned at the moment.”