Loan round-up - Glover's debut, Walkes' play-off agony, assists and more

A debut for Tom Glover, MLS play-off heartache for Anton Walkes and assists for three more young players – it’s been an action-packed spell for our boys out on loan lately.

Goalkeeper Glover, a regular for our Development Squad last season, started Central Coast Mariners’ first four games of the new Australian A-League campaign which began last month, but wasn’t involved at the weekend as his side drew 0-0 at Brisbane Roar. The Mariners have drawn two and lost two of Tom’s four games thus far.

Versatile defender Walkes, meanwhile, is enjoying a well-earned break after a fantastic season with MLS new boys Atlanta United finally came to an end with a play-off defeat to Columbus Crew at the end of October. After breaking into the team on a regular basis in June, Anton was ever-present at right-back for Atlanta during the run-in, aside from a 3-2 home defeat by Minnesota United, as they became the first MLS expansion side since 2009 to reach the play-offs.

Utilised at centre-half during the final game of the regular Eastern Conference season at home to Toronto on October 22, which ended 2-2, he was back on the right and put in an extended shift against Columbus five days later as his side took their first steps in the play-offs before being replaced in extra time. Atlanta lost 3-1 on penalties but will look back with pride on their debut campaign, which saw them regularly play in front of sell-out crowds and move into their plush new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Anton finished the American season with 23 appearances and two goals to his name.

Last Saturday, left-back Connor Ogilvie bagged an assist for Gillingham as they won 2-1 at home to Leyton Orient in the first round of the FA Cup. Connor has continued to feature regularly for the Gills in League One, only missing out on a 3-0 defeat at Rochdale back in September.

Young centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers – this week called into the senior USA squad for the second time in his career – also provided an assist as Sheffield United won 4-1 at home to Hull City in the Championship on Saturday. After scoring the winning goal on his debut for the Blades at Bolton Wanderers and then returning to the starting line-up for a 4-2 win over Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday in September, Cameron has been ever-present for Chris Wilder’s side as they’ve climbed to second in the table.

Elsewhere in the Championship, midfielder Josh Onomah (pictured, above, in action against Birmingham City) has been back in Aston Villa’s starting line-up of late and provided an assist on his last appearance, a 2-0 win at Preston North End last week, but missed Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday through injury.

Over in Turkey, striker Vincent Janssen has started all but two Super Lig games since linking up with Fenerbahce in September, most recently a 1-1 draw at Osmanlispor on Saturday.