Blackpool boss Neil Critchley explains Calum Macdonald loan move to Tranmere Rovers

It comes after the defender made a loan move to League Two side Tranmere Rovers last week.

Many Blackpool fans had been expecting Macdonald to be the club’s first-choice left-back this season, but the 22-year-old will now spend the season at Prenton Park instead.

“Calum needs to play regular football and that’s something that couldn’t be guaranteed here at this moment in time,” Critchley told The Gazette.

“At this stage of his career and at his age, he wanted to kick on from last season so he thought that was his best opportunity to play every single week.

“Tranmere is a good club in that division and they’ll have a chance of being up there, which will help showcase what Calum is about.”

The Seasiders could still strengthen at left-back after fielding a trialist in that position in Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Everton.

The player, widely reported to be former Manchester United man Demetri Mitchell, featured in the second half at Bloomfield Road.

The 23-year-old has recently been training with Blackpool’s League One rivals Sunderland, while he’s also thought to be a target for Championship outfit Luton Town.

“He’s not played football for a very long time,” Critchley told The Gazette.

“He trained with us on Friday and I think he was just pleased to get 45 minutes. Hopefully he can build on that now with Blackburn on Tuesday.

“We’re just taking a look at him. He’s here and I think that’s what can happen in pre-season, where you get the chance to look at certain people – he comes into that category.

“I think there’s no rush. We will see again on Tuesday and then take it from there.”

Mitchell, who had a loan spell with Hearts last season, was released by Manchester United in the summer.

In a recent interview with PA, the left-back admitted he needs to go out and get himself regular first-team football.

“I am 23 now, it’s time to move on and get more first-team football under my belt,” he said.

“United is all I’ve known, really, but going on loan really broadened my perspective on men’s football, so that was kind of a big thing.”

He added: “I’ve been training for about eight weeks and feeling good. Feeling really good.

“It’s been 18 months without a game but, really, it hasn’t been because I was fit at the back end of January and I missed the chance to go out on loan.

“There was really about 11 to 12 months because I was back fit again in February, but obviously the lockdown’s happened so those extra months have added on.”