England Under-20 boss Ian Foster has been pleased to see Luke Mbete gain “valuable experience” this season.

The defender spent the first half of the campaign at Huddersfield in the Championship, but his time with the Yorkshire club didn’t go to plan.

Mbete has made seven appearances since joining the Whites in the January window and scored in the 5-0 win against MK Dons last month.

Foster says the youngster will have taken a lot from his experience at Huddersfield and hopes can continue to develop.

"It's impressive when he goes to Huddersfield," the manager explained. "I know you say it's a 'bad loan' but if you speak to Luke - and we do regularly when they're out at these clubs - the experience he'd have got in those teams when managers are struggling.

“When fans are on the players' backs, when there might be a divide in the dressing room, it will help him so much.

"It's the development period for these players and they get valuable experience. Players have to adapt to that and with Luke at Huddersfield, he would have learned so much from that.

“It might not have been the greatest time for him when he's not playing but he would have learned so much, trust me.”

Mbete could be involved against Germany at the Manchester City Academy Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

Foster’s side also have matches against Spain and France coming up as they prepare for this summer’s Under-20 World Cup, which takes place in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, B Team youngster Luke Hutchinson has joined Radcliffe on loan for the remainder of the season.

The goalkeeper recently returned from a stint at Bamber Bridge and will now be hoping to boost the Boro’s promotion push.

Bobby Grant’s side are currently second in the Northern Premier League top flight, having lost just seven league games since the start of the campaign. Hutchinson will also be eligible for the B Team during his loan.

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