Loan Watch - October 2024

With the international break pausing the action for our teams, it's time to take a look at how all of our loan players are getting on across the campaign so far.

Bryan Gil and Alejo Veliz are in La Liga action with Girona and Espanyol respectively, whilst Alfie Devine is playing in Belgium with Westerlo.

In England, Manor Solomon, Ashley Phillips and Dane Scarlett are all playing Championship football with Leeds, Stoke and Oxford respectively, whilst Matthew Craig is in Yorkshire with Barnsley and both Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley join him in League One at Leyton Orient.

George Abbott is plying his trade in League Two with Notts County and Carey Bloedorn is currently at Aveley in the National League South, full round-up below.

Bryan Gil

Bryan's spell at Girona has yielded 11 appearances and one goal in all competitions so far.

The Blanquivermells' record so far this season has seen three wins, three draws and three defeats in La Liga, leaving them 11th, two points off the European places, but five points from the Champions League spots.

Bryan's started six times, including in each of the first five games, a run that saw him get on the scoresheet during a 4-0 demolition of Osasuna and play , but three of the last four league games have seen him used as a second-half substitute, a period that has seen him play just 127 minutes as the side have only won once.

He's started and played over an hour in both of the Gironistes' Champions League games so far this season taking his minute count up to 640. He also earned his first call up to the Spanish senior squad since 2021 for this international window, but had to withdraw due to injury.

Alejo Veliz

Alejo has played in all nine of Espanyol's La Liga fixtures so far this season, starting seven times and completing 574 minutes.

The Periquitos currently sit 14th in the table, just four points and four places above the bottom three, having lost five times already this season.

Despite that, the side have earned three home wins in that run, with Alejo scoring in the 96th minute to pick up a first win of the season against Rayo Vallecano, which was followed by a hard fought 3-2 victory against Alaves next time out.

The Blanquiazules also came into this international break off the back of a 2-1 win over RCD Mallorca, lifting them from just above the relegation zone in 17th.

Alfie Devine

Alfie's played all four Jupiler Pro League games since joining Westerlo last month, completing 315 minutes.

De Kemphanen are currently sixth in the table, winning four, drawing three and losing three of their opening 10 league games, leaving them on 15 points.

Since coming on as a half-time substitute against Anderlecht, Alfie's played every minute, picking up a point in that game, as well as against Beerschot last time out, falling to defeat against Royal Antwerp but securing victory against Standard Liege.

Ashley Phillips

A mixed start to the season has sees Stoke City sit down in 17th in the Championship table, just three points above the relegation zone.

Ash played 74 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle, one of just two wins since he joined the club, and his only league minutes, despite making the matchday squad on all but two occasions, those absences due to injury.

However he did start in both of their Carabao Cup wins so far this season, as they defeated Fleetwood Town and demolished Middlesbrough 5-0 at the Riverside, to earn a trip to take on Premier League Southampton at St. Mary's in Round Four.

So far he's completed 191 minutes and kept two clean sheets, but is yet to be utilised by new Potters manager Narcis Pelach.

Dane Scarlett

Dane's made five substitute appearances in Oxford's eight league games since joining the Championship side in August.

United have adjusted to life in the second tier well since promotion last term, currently sitting 10th in the table on 12 points, four off the play-offs and five above the bottom three.

He debuted in a defeat against Coventry, which was followed by a 2-1 loss at Ashton Gate against Bristol City. Despite that the U's have picked up three credible draws from their three fixtures against promotion favourites Burnley, recently relegated Luton and a tough game against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

He also got his first start in the Carabao Cup, also against Coventry, completing 83 minutes as Des Buckingham's side bowed out of the competition to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the CBS Arena, taking his minute count to 142.

He's also been called up again for England's Under-20s Elite League squad for this international window, having scored on his last call up against Romania last month.

Manor Solomon

A tough campaign for Manor so far has seen him limited to just two appearances at Leeds so far this season due to injury.

He grabbed an assist on debut for Mateo Joseph's opener in a 2-1 win over Hull City at Elland Road, but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Burnley next time out, completing 152 minutes across the two games.

Leeds have lost just one of their opening nine games in the Championship, winning four and conceding just seven, leaving them fifth and just two points off the automatic promotion spots.

Two tough home games await Daniel Farke's side after the international break, hosting second-placed Sheffield United and then Watford who are currently sixth, as they look to mount a promotion challenge.

Matthew Craig

Matthew's been involved in nine of the 10 league games Barnsley have played since he joined the Tykes, starting in each of those appearances.

That period has yielded four wins, two draws and three defeats, as the Tykes sit 11th, just a point outside the top six in an incredibly competitive League One table in which 18th-placed Bristol Rovers are just three points from the play-offs.

The midfielder has completed the full 90 four times, winning against Crawley 3-1 and beating both Bristol Rovers and Burton via a 2-1 scoreline, whilst the other game ended in a 2-2 draw against Wycombe.

He's also made two appearances in the Carabao Cup, playing 57 minutes in a penalty shootout victory over Wigan, before coming on at half-time in the third round tie against Manchester United at Oakwell.

So far he's completed an impressive 784 minutes for Darrell Clarke's side.

Jamie Donley & Josh Keeley

Elsewhere in League One, Leyton Orient suffered a tough start to their campaign, losing each of their first four league games.

However since then Orient have picked up eight points, hauling themselves off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone up to 19th.

Jamie Donley has made every matchday squad since joining playing in seven out of nine league games, also playing in both Carabao Cup games as well as one further game in the EFL Trophy, taking his tally to 10 appearances to date.

He's yet to get on the scoresheet, but has completed 538 minutes for Richie Wellens side.

Josh made his debut when he started against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Carabao Cup third round tie last month.

Orient took the lead in that game but the Bees eventually ran out 3-1 winners as he completed the 90 in his only appearance so far for the Brisbane Road-based side.

George Abbott

After playing 270 minutes for our Under-21s across Premier League 2 and the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, George Abbott joined Notts County at the end of August.

Since then he's played all seven league games for County, a run which saw him win the first three on the bounce, and four in total, also picking up one draw and two defeats.

He's completed five full 90s in that period, taking his minute count to 503 for the Magpies, who currently find themselves fifth in the League Two table on 18 points, just a point outside of the automatic promotion places.

Carey Bloedorn

A tough start to the season sees Aveley down in 22nd in the National League South table, inside the relegation zone having picked up five points from their opening 10 games.

Carey has played in eight of those 10 games, including in the only victory so far - a 3-1 victory over Dorking Wanderers, as well as the two draws against Tonbridge Angels, and former Football League outfit Torquay United.

He's completed 720 minutes for Danny Scopes' side, who currently sit four points from safety, but they face two sides around them in the next two games, hosting Chippenham Town, the side who sit just outside the relegation zone, at Parkside on Saturday, before travelling to the side directly above them in the table, Enfield Town.