Welbeck joins Preston on loan

Preston have signed Manchester United youngster Danny Welbeck on loan for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old striker has made 11 first-team appearances for United this term but manager Sir Alex Ferguson has agreed to let him go out on loan as his side head into the business end of the season.

It will be Welbeck's first spell away from Old Trafford and is a path also trodden by David Beckham, who kick-started his career with a one-month stint at Preston in March 1995.

Manchester-born Welbeck is Darren Ferguson's first signing as Preston boss and goes straight into the squad for Tuesday's trip to Peterborough.

"Danny is a young lad who has played quite a few games for United this season," Ferguson junior told Preston's official website. "He's got fantastic potential.

"I think it helped with United going out of the FA Cup - they wanted him to go out and get experience.

"He'll come here and get games, and I'm sure he'll show the right attitude because of where he's come from."

Welbeck has scored five goals in 24 appearances for United and signed a four-year contract extension in December.