First team experience: Quality or Quantity?

I have a young player who wants to get first team experience by going on loan but he's already a fringe player and a couple of injury/suspensions away from the first team.

Would it be better for his development to play half a dozen games in the top division, or twenty at a smaller club?

There is really no right or wrong. Whatever you think is best as manager. Without knowing the teams involved - I would generally loan him out as long as he was guaranteed a first-team spot.

I would keep him so you could manage his development yourself.

He will learn fastest if you play him as much as possible.

If you can only give him hallf a dozen games then that is not great, so maybe playing a full season on loan would be better for him. I'm never seen much improvement with loaned players though.

Actually, on second thoughts, I have seen a player improve a lot on loan but it took two full seasons away to his favourite club, so it can be worthwhile if he enjoys it.