LOAN UPDATE | JANUARY 2023

As the January transfer window opens, we can provide an update on a number of our Academy graduates' loan situations.

Declan Glass 

Subject to international clearance, Declan Glass will join Cove Rangers for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.

The midfielder spent six months with The Toonsers, then in League Two, during the 2019/20 season, scoring six goals in 16 appearances to aid the Aberdeenshire outfit's promotion push. He was awarded SPFL League Two Player of the Month for August 2019 after a string of stellar displays in blue.

Edinburgh-born Academy graduate Glass has four winners' medals to his name at the age of 22, claiming the FAI Ireland Cup with Derry City, the Championship at Kilmarnock and Dundee United, and the aforementioned League Two triumph with Cove Rangers. 

Declan, who is still returning to full fitness after a long-term knee injury, heads north in search of regular football to further prepare him for the competitive first-team environment at United.

Kai Fotheringham

After thriving during the first-half of the season at Stirling Albion, midfielder Kai Fotheringham will continue his loan spell at Forthbank until May.

The 19-year-old has bagged 13 goals and assists in 14 appearances for Darren Young's men so far and will look to further aid their chase of Dumbarton at the summit, with four points separating the sides at the midway point of the season.

He has been a regular part of the United first-team set-up since 2020, making his debut in a 6-2 rout of Brechin City during the League Cup group stages.

Scotland U16 international Fotheringham claimed the League One title with Cove Rangers last season, and has completed successful loan spells across the pyramid with Falkirk and Raith Rovers in recent times.

Flynn Duffy

Flynn Duffy will team up with fellow Academy graduate Fotheringham at Stirling Albion for the remainder of the season.

The left-sided defender, who has been within the club's youth set-up since the age of nine, has turned out three times for Dundee United B this season as the cinch Reserve League returned after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

Duffy enjoyed his first taste of regular first-team action with Peterhead last season during a season-long loan spell, playing 26 matches under former United midfielder Jim McInally at Balmoor as they successfully battled relegation.

He will now face a different challenge with the Binos alongside his Terrors colleague looking to aid their title charge throughout the final 18 matches.

Adam Hutchinson

Adam Hutchinson will join Forfar Athletic on a short-term loan deal.

A regular for both the U18s and Dundee United B in recent seasons, the physical defender has been within the club's youth system since the age of ten, signing his first professional contract in 2019.

The 19-year-old is yet to make his United debut but was frequently named within matchday squads during the 2020/21 season.

Adam heads out on his fourth loan move, following spells with the University of Stirling, Dumbarton and Montrose over the past two years.

Forfar Athletic, managed by former United player and boss Ray McKinnon, sit ninth in League Two despite being four points off a promotion play-off place.

Jacob Comerford

Finally, center-half Jacob Comerford will remain on loan with Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts until the end of the season.

Comerford continues to adjust to senior football after being a mainstay with Ryan Moon's U18s last year - splitting his time between Dundee United B and the Broadwood outfit between August and December.

"A fantastic opportunity"

Head of Player Pathways, Brian Grant, gave his thoughts on the youngsters being given the opportunity to develop in first-team environments across the pyramid

"These loans present a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger players to get valuable minutes under their belt in a competitive, first-team environment.

"They will face a number of different challenges across various levels of the SPFL pyramid which will further aid their respective development pathways.

"We wish all the boys the best of luck out on loan and look forward to welcoming them back to the club in the summer."