Richard Naylor firmly believes his young charges will have benefited from their first overnight trip of the season, despite suffering defeat at Millwall.

The youngsters have been handed a number of games out of the traditional local area, enabling them to gain in experience in terms of match preparation akin to the senior sides.

Saturday's trip to Millwall will be followed by games at Crystal Palace, Bristol City, and Cardiff over the course of the season.

“It was a good learning curve for them,” said Richard. “We didn’t play the football we could but the trip will be a good experience for them.

“We trained and travelled down on the Friday, just like the first team would do it. Hopefully in a years time some of these lads will be playing in the first team.

“You don’t want to go into that environment with it all completely new to you. When you have these opportunities at away games it is perfect.

“It’s great to be used to being in a hotel and doing the right things, eating properly and getting your rest in before the game.

“It’s perfect preparation for them and stands them in good stead because that is how a first team would go about their business and we want to get them to that level.”

Richard’s young chargers took the lead at Millwall in what was a tight affair. Kalvin Philips was the man to get United’s opener with a superb free kick effort.

The momentum swung in the home side’s favour when, in the 75th minute, Millwall equalised. With just minutes remaining Millwall filled the United penalty area and stole the game with a back post header.

Although the match ended with a 2-1 defeat manager Richard Naylor believes the trip as a whole was a success.

United: Dixon, Booker, Tiesse, Roper, Vann, Bennett, Philips, Purver, Stokes, Mulhern, Amiri. Subs. Molloy, Lyman, Berry, Crouz, Mbanje.