Loan round-up - 18 February

Cameron Carter-Vickers’ loan spell at Celtic is going from strength to strength.

In our last round-up in the middle of December, we reported that Cameron had played a central role in the Celts’ Scottish League Cup success – and now he has helped them to take top spot in the Scottish Premiership.

Since claiming that piece of silverware before Christmas, the USA international has missed just 24 minutes of domestic action for the Bhoys. In that time, his side have remained unbeaten and are currently on an eight-match winning streak, keeping six clean sheets in the process.

In Spain, Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso have both made positive starts to their respective loan spells at Valencia and Villarreal.

Since his arrival at the Mestalla last month, Bryan has appeared in all four of the Bats’ matches and already become somewhat of a crowd favourite. Making his debut against Cadiz CF in the quarter-finals of the Copa Del Rey on 2 February, the winger played the full 90 minutes to help his side progress to the competition’s final four. They have already played the first leg of their semi-final, drawing 1-1 away to Athletic Bilbao - Bryan played 84 minutes, which came either side of a start and substitute appearance for the winger in La Liga.

Gio, meanwhile, has appeared in both Villarreal’s matches since his return to Spain in January. Coming off the bench to make his debut in a 2-0 win over his former side Real Betis on 6 February, he then started away to Real Madrid on Saturday as the Yellow Submarine earned a 0-0 draw at the Bernabeu.

In France, while Tanguy Ndombele has kicked off his loan return to Lyon, Pape Matar Sarr has returned to domestic action across the Channel after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month.

Starting with Tanguy, who linked up with his former side on deadline day, the midfielder has enjoyed a positive start to life back at the Groupama Stadium. Appearing twice since making the switch, the French international made his second debut for Les Gones on 5 February and made an impact despite his side falling to a 2-0 defeat to AS Monaco. He then provided an assist in his next outing as, on Saturday, he started in a 2-0 win over Nice and was creative element behind his side’s second goal.

Meanwhile, just 500km north of Tanguy and Lyon, Pape returned to action with FC Metz on Sunday following his triumph at the AFCON tournament. Having been a part of the Senegal squad that tasted glory in the final against Egypt on 6 February in Cameroon, the midfielder came off the bench for the final 24 minutes of Metz’s defeat to Marseille at the weekend.

In League One, there have been mixed emotions for our loaned-out players.

Kion Etete stepped up from League Two Northampton to third tier Cheltenham last month. Having enjoyed the first six months of the season with the Cobblers, he has continued his form in Gloucestershire, providing two assists in his first three starts. Making his debut off the bench in a 1-0 defeat to league leaders Rotherham on 22 January, he featured again a week later in a 0-0 draw with second-placed Wigan, and then earned his first start late last month against Wimbledon – they drew 2-2 with Kion teeing up the Robins’ first. A week later, he provided his second assist, setting up the winner in Cheltenham’s 2-1 home triumph over Sunderland, before playing the full 90 minutes on Saturday in a 2-0 win over Fleetwood.

Fellow striker Troy Parrott has continued to play his part for MK Dons as they battle for promotion to the Championship. Troy has appeared in each of MK’s last 14 matches, starting nine of them, including each of the last six.

Continuing north, despite recent difficulties for his new side, Jack Clarke has been a bright spark for Sunderland in his early moments in the north east. Coming off the bench for his debut in a 6-0 defeat to Bolton on 29 January, the winger was then a used substitute in a home defeat to Doncaster before he was given his first start against Kion’s Cheltenham, and he made a positive impact in the game’s early stages. That saw him start once again for the Wearsiders on Saturday as they drew 1-1 away to Wimbledon.

Nile John, meanwhile, made his first appearance in a Charlton matchday squad on Saturday as he was an unused substitute in their 2-1 defeat to Wigan.

In the Isthmian League Premier Division, Kacper Kurylowicz has made three appearances since joining Potters Bar last month. Starting all three games, the goalkeeper made his debut in a 3-2 defeat to Cray Wanderers on 2 February before a 2-1 win over Kingstonian three days later and then a 3-0 defeat to Bishop's Stortford last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, fellow goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman returned to Swedish side Degerfors ahead of the start of their 2022 season, which is due to kick off on Saturday as the Allsvenskan side begin their Svenska Cup campaign.

Spurs Women’s Esther Morgan has played twice for Barclays FA Women’s Super League rivals Leicester City since moving to the East Midlands at the start of the month. Appearing twice off the bench for the Foxes, full-back Esther has helped them to back-to-back league wins with victories over Birmingham (1-2) and West Ham (3-0).

Gracie Pearse has appeared in each of Crystal Palace’s last five games although it has been somewhat a mixed bag of results for the Eagles. Playing the full 90 in each of those games, defender Gracie helped her side to wins over Durham (3-2) and Lewes (3-1) either side of a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, but they have since lost back-to-back games against Bristol City (4-0) and London City Lionesses (5-1).

And finally, after returning to Blackburn Rovers last month, goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps kept a clean sheet on her second debut for Rovers as they earned a 0-0 draw with Watford in the FA Women’s Championship. She then came off the bench on Sunday for her second appearance as her side fell to a 4-0 defeat at Sheffield United.