Loan round-up - Clarke and Parrott on target

Jack Clarke opened his goalscoring account for Sunderland with a thunderous strike in League One on Tuesday night.

Hitting the target for the first time in red and white as the Wearsiders came from behind to defeat Fleetwood 3-1, Jack played the full game at the Stadium of Light and sealed his side’s victory with their third of the evening in stoppage time, cutting inside from the left before rifling home from the edge of the area. That win moved his side back into the play-off places.

It was the 21-year-old’s ninth appearance in a row for Sunderland since moving to the north east in January, although it was his third start and the first time he has played the whole 90 minutes.

At the same time elsewhere in the division, striker Troy Parrott scored twice for MK Dons in a 3-1 win at home to Cheltenham. Going into the game, the Irish international hadn’t netted in the league since September but he certainly had his shooting boots back on as he grabbed a brace in a 3-1 win over the Robins.

The striker, who spoke earlier this week on his frustrations in front of goal, headed home his side’s opener on 26 minutes and you could see how much it meant with his impassioned celebration. Then, after Mo Eisa doubled MK’s lead, Troy doubled his tally on 85 minutes with a fine finish from the angle with him later being name man of the match. He has now scored five goals and provided six assists in 32 league appearances in Bedfordshire as his side battle it out for automatic promotion to the Championship.

Fellow striker Kion Etete didn't feature for the visitors having picked up an ankle issue, although he registered his first goals for Cheltenham last month. Having provided two assists in his first five appearances for the Robins, the striker then recorded another assist before opening his goalscoring account in a dramatic 5-5 draw away at Wycombe on 19 February. A week later, he bagged his second for the Gloucestershire outfit as he guided home their sole goal in a 2-1 defeat to Crewe. He has two goals and three assists to his name in eight appearances so far.

Also in the third tier, Nile John is still waiting to make his debut for Charlton. The midfielder has been an unused substitute for four of the Addicks’ last five games.

Another of our loaned-out players who has been among the goals lately is Cameron Carter-Vickers, who scored his first for Celtic since October in their 2-0 win over St Mirren on 2 March. Volleying home from close range, the centre back opened the scoring at Celtic Park in the 55th minute before Callum McGregor clinched the victory with a second in the final 10 minutes.

Since our last report, Cameron has started each of the Celts’ last two league games, with wins picked up in both, and that continues a run of 15 consecutive starts – a spell in which his side has remained unbeaten, with 13 wins in that time. The Bhoys remain top of the Scottish Premiership, three points ahead of Rangers.

In Spain, Bryan Gil has made three further appearances for Valencia and recorded his first goal involvement for the Bats, as he crossed for Carlos Soler to head home their only goal in a 4-1 defeat to Barcelona on 20 February. He also helped his side through to the Copa del Rey final with a 2-1 aggregate win over Athletic Bilbao on 3 March.

And 60 kilometres up the coast, Giovani Lo Celso has made a further four appearances for Villarreal – all of them starts – and played the full 90 minutes as the Yellow Submarine drew 1-1 with Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

Across Spain’s northern border, Tanguy Ndombele has started two more games for Lyon, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Lens on 19 February and a 1-0 defeat to Lille eight days later. Meanwhile, 300 miles further north, Pape Matar Sarr has played an additional three games for FC Metz since our last report, starting one of them - a 0-0 draw with FC Nantes on 27 February.

In Sweden, Alfie Whiteman is awaiting the start of Degerfors' new Allsvenskan season on 2 April.

Back here in the UK, in the Isthmian League Premier Division, goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz has been an unused substitute in each of Potters Bar’s last five games having started each of their previous three.

Spurs Women’s Gracie Pearse has continued to be a constant presence for Crystal Palace since our last report. The defender has started each of the Eagles’ last two games as they earned a 1-0 win at Sunderland on 27 February before falling to a 1-0 reverse at Coventry United on Sunday.

Eleanor Heeps has not featured in either of Blackburn’s last two games, meanwhile Esther Morgan, who has made two appearances for Leicester City so far, is currently back with us for treatment on an injury.