MANCHESTER United loan Defender Craig Cathcart believes his Argyle adventure has made him a better player.

The Northern Ireland under-21 international recently extended his loan stay at Argyle until the end of the season and is hoping that the new and improved Craig will impress United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I was sent down here to get experience from playing," he said. "Hopefully when I go back the manager will see how much I have improved, and I might get in the squad.

"Playing against players in training like Rory [has helped]. I've not been used to playing against big strikers and you have to learn when to put your body on the line, and when to jockey. It has helped me massively."

Cathcart is enjoying playing regular first team football and says that the whole experience is a world away from the United reserve team.

"I've played quite a few games in the first half of the season and that's what I'm looking forward to in the second half as well, and hopefully pushing back up the table," he said.

"There is a lot of passing in reserve and youth team football but down here it is 100 miles per hour in every game."

Cathcart has recently been joined in Devon by fellow United defender David Gray and firmly believes Argyle will benefit from the partnership.

He said: "I played with him in the youth team and the reserve team, and we can hopefully get a good run in the team together and make a solid back four.

"He did brilliantly for his debut [against Arsenal] and he is usually very consistent. He is a solid defender, he's quick, can get forward and I'm sure he will do well.

"We played together for three years, so we know each other's game and what we're good at. He just needs to get to know the rest of the lads and I'm sure he will fit in well."

Rob Hendry