Loan watch - Dele returns to action

Dele Alli returned from injury to help MK Dons register a 3-0 win at Swindon Town in League One on Saturday afternoon.

The central midfielder, who has been out of action for several weeks with an ankle problem, completed the full 90 minutes for his side and played a key role in the build-up to the Dons’ second goal.

In the Championship, defender Grant Hall was ever-present for Blackpool in their 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers while, in Premier League action, Aaron Lennon played the full match for Everton as they won 1-0 at home to Southampton.

And in the German Bundesliga, Lewis Holtby went on as a half-time substitute for Hamburg in their 4-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.

On Friday, Shaq Coulthirst tasted victory with York City for the second time in six days as the Minstermen claimed a 1-0 win at home to Cheltenham Town.

Our on-loan forward, who scored twice in last week’s 4-1 triumph at Mansfield, played virtually the full game as he was substituted four minutes into stoppage time at Bootham Crescent – his side picking up three more points to aid their quest to stay away from the relegation zone in League Two.

There was no such luck for our other loanees in that division, however, as defender Dominic Ball was an unused substitute for Cambridge United in their 2-0 home defeat by Bury with attacker Nathan Oduwa on the bench for Luton Town as they lost at home to Exeter City by the odd goal in five.

In League One, Bongani Khumalo played 90 minutes for Colchester United as they won 2-1 at Port Vale. Midfielder Grant Ward was in action for Coventry City on Wednesday night, his side suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Leyton Orient. Grant went closest to finding the net for the Sky Blues, being denied by the woodwork and also visiting goalkeeper Alex Cisak on the way to completing the full match.

It was a joyous Friday afternoon for our players on loan in the Championship, midfielder Alex Pritchard playing an hour for Brentford as they won 4-1 at Fulham. Goalkeeper Jordan Archer, meanwhile, was on the bench for Millwall in their 2-1 home win over Charlton Athletic.

In the Scottish Premiership on Friday evening, Emmanuel Sonupe was a 77th minute substitute for St Mirren in their 2-0 defeat at home to Celtic.