Andy Kellett to Manchester United: All You Need to Know on Club's New Signing

It may not have been the stellar acquisition the Manchester United faithful were expecting on Deadline Day, but the club have added some defensive reinforcements with the loan signing of Andy Kellett from Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season, per BBC Sport.

Name: Andrew Paul Kellett

Birth Date: 10 November 1993 (21 years old)

Position: Left-Back

Former Clubs: Bolton Wanderers (2014-) Plymouth Argyle (2014-15)

Why have United Signed Him?

The move for the 21-year-old was announced after Red Devils academy prospect Saidy Janko joined up with Bolton on loan in an attempt to gain some first team football. As noted here by Mark Ogden of the Telegraph, on the face of things, Kellett merely looks as though he’ll be cover for the departing Swiss:

Indeed, Kellett hasn’t exactly pulled any trees at the Lancashire club. As noted in the aforementioned piece, so far he’s only made four senior appearances for a Bolton side who are languishing mid-table. Earlier this season he was actually sent out on loan to League Two team Plymouth Argyle.

During that spell he scored his first senior goal. As we can see courtesy of James Dart of The Guardian, it was a bit of a special strike too:

What type of player is he?

Stylistically he’s a player who will be a like-for-like replacement for Janko. Kellett is quick, a fine dribbler and capable of operating in various positions on the left flank. With Janko gone, he should become a regular in Warren Joyce’s development squad and Kellett will be desperate to pit his wits against some of the best young players around.

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

It should certainly help refine the focus of a young man who former Wanderers boss Dougie Freedman claimed had issues with his “off-the-field” attitude, per Maylon’s piece.

Any chance of making a first-team impact?

It looks very unlikely. In fact, waking up today you suspect the youngster will still be struggling to grasp the fact that he’s now a United player. According to the Bolton News (h/t Ed Maylon of the Mirror), the player was subject to the following exchange:

"

“Sit down Andy,” said Bolton first team coach Garry Parker. “We’ve got some good news and some bad news.”

The full-back reportedly then asked if he could hear the bad news first.

“You’re not going back to Plymouth,” was the reply. Steeling himself for the worst, Kellett then asked to hear the good news.

“You’re going to Manchester United” was the unbelievable response.

"

Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Naturally there have been plenty poking fun at this particular move, especially when you consider the Red Devils were linked with some stellar names on Deadline Day. One of those was Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and football writer Graham Ruthven mawkishly suggested Kellett could be better value:

Clearly Kellett isn’t a player who’s going to make an impression on the first team at United anytime soon, but for a player of his standing the opportunity to learn at one of the biggest clubs in the land is one that simply couldn’t be sniffed at.

Even if he returns to Bolton at the end of the season—chances are that he will—he will surely be better off for this experience and subsequently, this spell at United will be vital in his development as he looks to make a living as a young footballer.