Fatah & Stephenson can leave with their heads held high
[BBC] If the rumour mill is to be believed and, more convincingly, what we all saw with our own eyes on Saturday, it looks like we may have already witnessed the final appearances of two of our standout players this season. Both Luca Stephenson and Amar Fatah, our on-loan star men, seem set to miss the run-in, with 17 May shaping up to be a grateful goodbye rather than just another fixture. Let's start with Luca.
Arriving at Tannadice on loan from Liverpool at the beginning of last season, he didn't take long to show exactly what he was about. Calm, reliable and capable of playing just about anywhere you asked him to, he quickly became one of the first names on the teamsheet. His performances over the season quite rightly earned him United's young player of the year award.
Getting him back for another loan spell this season felt like a minor miracle, football's version of finding a tenner in an old jacket. And once again, he has delivered without fuss or fanfare. Wherever he's been asked to play, he's done it well, and then just quietly got on with it again the following week.
What happens next for the 22-year-old at Liverpool is anyone's guess, but he has more than shown the ability to make a serious impact at a high level. In short: thank you, Luca, it's been a pleasure. Now, Fatah.
He arrived with a bit more noise around him and a price tag in his recent past to match. Still only 21, already the subject of a £4. 5m move to Troyes, and even a trial with Manchester City in 2024, there was every reason for excitement.