lets face it when you compare him to say some of the other youngsters - darren potter for example - by staying he'd only ever get a look in when we play the league cup or may be the fa cup for example - but by going on loan he'll get invaluable premiership experience and in a struggling side perhaps he'll have to graft even more and build more physical presence as a result.
i think Rafa would like to give the lad a chance, else he could have sold him on to some French side for a knock down fee as i'm sure someone would have taken him off our hands. i for one would like him to come through and cement a position for himself in the senior squad with regular subs bench or even first 11 appearances.