Former West Brom, Charlton, Oxford United and Leicester City figure set for Man United job

Former West Brom midfielder turned coach Michael Appleton could be set for a return to Manchester United.

According to The Sun, Appleton is set to become the loan manager at Old Trafford. Dan Ashworth, the sporting director at Old Trafford is continuing to add to United's impressive backroom staff, and now they could be about to bring in an experienced EFL manager to the club.

The 48-year-old was once on the books of United and was there from 1992 to 1997, and could return 27 years after he departed. Former Tranmere physio and manager Les Parry is currently the loan manager at Man United, but Appleton could now displace him from his post.

Appleton worked with Ashworth during their time together at the Hawthorns, and now the pair could reunite as Man United look to get back to their glory days by improving their football set-up. The job as a loan manager would represent Appleton with his first administrative job, but he is said to have a good knowledge of the up-and-coming talents at the club.

His use of the loan market as a manager would put him in good stead for the job. He has been out of work since he was sacked by Charlton Athletic in September, having lasted just four and a half months in the role. If he were to be appointed, it would represent his first job away from the dugout since he started his individual management career in 2011.

After playing for West Brom from 2001 to 2003, Appleton remained at the club, and began his coaching career here. He worked with their academy teams, before becoming assistant manager, and first-team coach. He got to manage the team for one game, and that was a 3-3 draw with West Ham, a game in which they led by three goals at half-time.

He left West Brom in November 2011 and became manager of Portsmouth but could not stop them from being relegated. Appleton would go on to manage Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Oxford United before getting assistant manager and first-team coaching job posts at Leicester City and West Brom.

The former Preston North End midfielder returned to management in September 2019 with Lincoln City, and then returned to Blackpool, but only lasted seven months. At Charlton, he oversaw 28 games, winning eight and losing nine, and left earlier this year after failing to win in 10 League One games.