Loan Lads: April Recap
Well, well, well, what do we have here? A quick round up on all the lads on loan and quick recap on their April performances as we head down the last stretch of the season. Let’s get into it.
* all stats are monthly totals. Game ratings are an average of games started , supplied by fotmob *in available leagues.
Takumi Minamino – Southampton (ENG – 1)
Minamino started off his mid-season loan, scoring and playing well but has faded dramatically since. He featured in the last match in a 1 – 1 draw with Leicester. It was the only time he saw action in the month of April and there will be serious concerns at the home club level on his ability to adjust to the physicality and pace of Premier League play.
6.3 (performance rating)
1 game started (76 mins), 1 yellow card
Stock: Falling
Marko Grujic – FC Porto (POR – 1)
It took a bit for Grujic to find minutes, but he’s forced his way into the side in a pretty big way, as of late. Most commonly dispatched at the heart of a 4-4-2, Grujic started 5 matches, including the last 3 critical Champions League matches, and has made 2 substitute appearances.
7.7 (performance rating)
5 games started
2 substitute appearances
1 goal
Stock: Rising
Harvey Elliott – Blackburn (ENG – 2)
You could not have asked for a better loan spell for the youngster. Already highly touted, he’s found a way to surpass the hype. Recently named the Championship’s “Young Player of the Year”, Elliott continued his red hot form with a goal and an assist in the month as Blackburn continue to push for one of the last playoff spots.
7.2 (performance rating)
5 games started
1 substitute appearance
1 goal
1 assist
Stock: Hot
Harry Wilson – Cardiff (ENG – 2)
At 24, this was always likely, Wilson’s last loan spell. Overall, it’s been a very good year as he’s cemented a spot on the left wing in Cardiff’s preferred 4-3-3. Harry ended the month with a bang, and a 5 star, MOTM earning performance where he smashed three absolute beauties past Birmingham in a 4-0 victory.
7.7 (performance rating) – 1 MOTM performance
5 games started
1 substitute appearance
3 goals
2 assist
Stock: Rising
Sheyi Ojo – Cardiff (ENG – 2)
Ojo started off the year in the starting XI but since has struggled and is now on the outside looking in. This month saw his action reduced to only 3 substitute appearances in the dying embers of the match.
3 substitute appearances
Stock: Falling
Liam Millar – Charlton Athletic (ENG – 3)
Like Harry Wilson, Millar has solidified himself as a regular starter on the left side of an attacking 4-3-3. He had a solid month scoring once in his last 4 starts.
7.3 (performance rating)
4 games started
2 substitute appearances
1 goal
Stock: Holding
Taiwo Awoniyi – Union Berlin (GER – 1)
Awoniyi sustained a thigh injury in mid February. He is expected to return to fitness by mid May.
Stock: Injured
Sepp Van den Berg – Preston North End (ENG – 2)
In one of the more surprising loan developments, Sepp has been switched from centerback to a right wing back and is seeing regular first team minutes in Preston North End’s preferred 3-5-2. He is locked in and started the team’s last six games in which they have notched 4 clean sheets.
7.0 (performance rating)
6 games started
4 clean sheets
Stock: Holding
Adam Lewis – Plymouth Argyle (ENG – 3)
Adam Lewis has been a fixture down the left flank as a left wing back in Plymouth’s preferred 3-5-2. He has missed the last 3 matches with an ankle injury. In that time, Plymouth have lost their last 3 matches.
6.75 (performance rating)
4 games started
1 clean sheet
Stock: Injured
Anderson Arroyo – Salamanca CF UDS (ESP – 3)
Somewhere in the rolling high plateaus of northwestern Spain, Arroyo has been plying his trade in the Segunda Division B and doing so quite well. Salamanca sit atop the 6 team relegation fight and have been one of the division’s stingiest defensive units.
5 games started
4 clean sheets
Stock: Holding
Lloris Karius – Union Berlin (GER – 1)
New team, new country, same nightmare. Karius was beat out early on in the loan by veteran Andreas Luthe and has been hard pressed to see first team minutes. His last match was in late February.
N/A
Stock: Dead
Kamil Grabara – AGF Aarhus (DEN – 1)
Grabara has been the locked in starting goalkeeper for Aarhus. They continue playoff fixtures as they are in a six team scrap for a european qualification spot.
6.72 (performance rating)
6 games started
1 clean sheet
Stock: Holding
Vitezslav Jaros – St. Patrick’s Athletic (IRL – 1)
Jaros has become a key player for St. Patrick’s who currently sit atop the Ireland Football League and boast the league best defensive unit, having only conceded 3 in 8 matches.
6 games started
5 clean sheets
Stock: Rising