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Man United's James Wilson a better player after Brighton loan - Hughton

Manchester United striker James Wilson has handled the transition into Championship football and has become a better player, according to Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton.

Wilson joined Brighton on a loan deal from November until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old has not been a regular starter in a side who have been challenging for promotion and who are now facing playoffs against Sheffield Wednesday, but Hughton is happy with the player's impact.

The Brighton manager was quoted by the Manchester Evening News, saying: "The transition from being at Manchester United and predominantly on the fringes of the first team, training with the first team most days, then coming into the Championship is completely different.

"It's never easy and it's not been over-easy in his period here but he has adapted well.

"We are very confident that he would have gained great experience from his time here and he will go back to United a better player."

Wilson has scored five times for Brighton during his loan spell and Hughton feels that the tally would have been higher, had it not been for the player's lack of starts.

He said: "At times, we've had a settled two in [Tomer] Hemed and [Sam] Baldock from earlier in the season, hence the reason why James hasn't played or started as consistently as he would have liked.

"Certainly I think if he would have started more games, the fact he is a natural goalscorer, there's no doubt he is a talent and I think he would have got us more goals."