Wayne Rooney is confident that young striker Jack Stretton will benefit from his loan spell at National League side Stockport County.


The 19-year-old joined the Hatters on loan for a month on Monday and the Scotland youth international could make his debut for his new side against Solihull Moors on Tuesday evening.

Stretton, a graduate of Derby’s Academy, made his senior debut earlier this season and has three first-team appearances to his name - all under Rooney.

A groin problem has limited his first-team involvement in recent months but after returning to full fitness last month, Rooney believes competitive matches is the next important step for the striker.


“Jack will be at Stockport for the next month and I think it will be a good move for him,” Rooney told RamsTV.

“It is a chance for him to go and play competitive football and I am looking forward to seeing him play. I am sure if he gets the chance to, he will score goals. It is a good move and it helps us seeing him get game time at a really competitive level.

“Stockport showed interest in Jack and I felt it was a good time for Jack to go out and get some games.

“He can get games in the Under-23s and be around the first-team here, but I think I felt, and he felt, that it would be good for him to go out and get some minutes on the pitch in a competitive environment. I am sure it will benefit him a lot.”


Stretton’s form for the Under-23s earlier in the campaign, scoring eight times in Premier League 2 – Division 1, saw him step up to the first-team squad and make his professional debut at home to Wycombe Wanderers in November.