LOAN ROUNDUP PART ONE

Sunderland sent 14 players out on loan in the last transfer window and their destinations have varied from teams playing in the European competitions and in top flights across Europe to the depths of non league in England. Here’s a quick rundown of how they’ve been getting on, with this being part one of a three part series of articles:

ADIL AOUCHICHE

Adil Aouchiche has so far made 11 appearances for Aberdeen and has scored one goal and registered two assists. His goal came in his most recent game, a 4-0 demolition of Dundee FC in the Scottish Premiership and his two assists came against Greenock Morton in the Scottish League Cup and FCSB in the Europa League. Aberdeen have only managed one win in the league all season (the aforementioned 4-0 over Dundee) and their only other victory has come in the League Cup (versus Greenock Morton), a competition they are now out of. They failed to qualify for the Europa League but are in the Conference League and still have the Scottish Cup to look forward to. Still, they sit bottom of the league and so their primary goal at the moment is to avoid remaining in a relegation dogfight. Aouchiche’s loan runs until the end of the season, at which point the Dons have an option to buy for £1.5 million which would be a club record signing.

MATTY YOUNG

Matty Young has rejoined League Two Salford City on loan again this season after a spell with the Greater Manchester club last season. Young is the number one at Moor Lane, registering 10 appearances (all of which have come in the league) and keeping one clean sheet (away in a 1-0 win versus Newport County). Salford currently sit 6th in the fourth tier, just two points off of the automatic spots but just one point ahead of outside the play-off spots. Promotion very much remains on the cards for City then. They’re also top of their EFL Trophy group but went out of the League Cup in the first round but they do have the FA Cup coming up. Young’s loan spell will last until the end of the season without an option to buy.

TOM LAVERY

Tom Lavery has played five times for Cliftonville so far, four times in the NIFL Premiership and once in the Irish League Cup. His debut saw him contribute to a clean sheet draw (he's a right back) against Coleraine and his most recent outing was in a 4-1 cup win against Coagh United. Cliftonville are 9th in the league at the time of writing and will be looking to break into the top six before the league splits after March. His side will also play in the Irish Cup later in the campaign but his loan spell is due to come to an end on the 30th November.

RHYS WALSH

Rhys Walsh’s loan spell with South Shields was due to come to an end on the 12th September but a day before this it was extended for another month so now it’s due to end on the 12th October, just in time for him to play one more game potentially in an FA Cup qualifier against Spalding United. The left winger has played eight games for the National League North outfit, seven times in the league and once in an FA Cup qualification game. As mentioned, his final game could be in the final round of qualifiers for the FA Cup. Helping them to the first round proper wouldn’t be a bad send-off. With his game time thus far he’s registered one assist, in a 3-0 win versus Radcliffe. The Mariners sit top of the northern section of the sixth tier, three points ahead of sixth place AFC Fylde. Of course, they’re still in the FA Cup and will play in the FA Trophy later on.

DAN CAMERON

Dan Cameron was previously loaned to Hebburn Town towards the end of last season and the goalkeeper has gone back to the Hebburn Sports and Social Ground for this season too. He originally signed for a month but this has since been extended until the summer. Like Young, Cameron is the number one for his temporary team. So far, he’s been between the sticks nine times, keeping two clean sheets (both came within his first three appearances). Six of those games came in the NPL Premier Division (the seventh tier), two in FA Cup qualifiers and once in an FA Trophy qualifier. Hebburn are currently 8th, comfortably ahead of the relegation spots but still four points off of the play-offs. They’ve been knocked out of the FA Cup but they have qualified for the FA Trophy first round.