“I’ve had Darren Fletcher text me a few times, asking me how it’s going or he’s already seen the result or something like that. And then obviously the Under-21s’ gaffer and assistant, Trav [Travis Binnion] and Dave [Hughes], they’ve checked in with me regularly.”
It’s not just about messages of encouragement; there’s a structured support system in place.
“We will make sure that each of the players has a mentor, and usually that’s positional specific,” says Cox. “For example, Rhys Bennett’s mentor at Fleetwood is Dave Hughes because he was a central defender.
“Together, the staff observe as many games as we possibly can — yes, I’ve even been to Inverness to see James Nolan this season! — and observe the players, write reports, give feedback. We watch from afar if we can’t get there in person.”
Rhys tells us that he had no idea someone was watching his most recent game until a text post-match from U21s coach Binnion. Someone had been there and they’d broken down his performance to talk through it after.
“That’s always good to know, and it’s another reason to always put 100 per cent in!” he says.
What comes next?
“When I was younger, I used to get carried away with thinking, ‘what’s the next couple of years going to look like?’ You can lose focus on what’s in front of you right now. It’s still in the back of my mind, but the focus is on the next game and getting the most out of this.”
For inspiration, he may look to Will Fish, another ex-Stockport loanee who found success with Hibernian in Scotland and now Cardiff City, or to those who have returned and earned themselves a chance right here at United. Dean Henderson, Axel Tuanzebe and James Garner are three who may not have stayed with the Reds for years on end, but they got their chance, showed quality and have forged excellent Premier League careers for themselves. Bennett could hear similar stories from current Reds Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton too.
At some point in all these players’ loan moves, someone, somewhere might have asked ‘What are they doing there?’ Well, learning what it takes. That’s what.
