for Manchester United in the League Cup in November 2001, and then joined Port Vale on a one-month loan. He made five appearances for Port Vale, returning to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell as he felt that the departure of Andy Cole from the club at the end of December 2001 would enhance his first team opportunities. He did not break into the first team, however, and in March 2002, he joined First Division club Watford on loan for the rest of the season, where he scored two goals in five League appearances. He joined Watford again for the start of the 2002–03 season on a three-month loan and impressed Watford manager Ray Lewington who said, "Danny's come down from Manchester United and he has enthusiasm and a willingness to work. He's an absolute credit." His loan spell came to an end in October 2002 after he dislocated his shoulder in a match against Sheffield Wednesday. He made a third appearance for Manchester United as a substitute in the Champions League match against Deportivo de La Coruña in March 2003. At the end of the season, he was offered a three-year contract, but turned it down in order to seek first-team football, saying "When I was 16, I made the decision that if I was still around at 21 and not in the first team I'd have to be professional and go and play first-team football somewhere else. I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't broken through but there's no point thinking about what could have been.". Watford Webber joined Watford on a three-year contract in the summer of 2003. He made 31 league and cup appearances in the 2003–04 season, scoring five goals, with a shoulder injury suffered in training in February 2004 restricting his appearance for the rest of the season. Webber made a good start to the 2004–05 season, scoring nine goals by mid-October 2004, with manager Ray Lewington saying, "He has got mind and body right this year and is showing the potential we all knew he had. He is doing extremely well. And this season Danny is scoring tap ins as well as spectacular goals." However, his season was interrupted by a dislocated shoulder suffered during a match against Gillingham in November 2004, and he was later dropped from the first team in March 2005 owing to poor form. Shortly