LOAN WATCH: PART ONE (2023, 7)

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Play-off & promotion chasers enjoy successful week as end of season nears

2023-04-17T07:30:00.000Z

LOAN WATCH: PART ONE (2023, 7)

Play-off & promotion chasers enjoy successful week as end of season nears

2023-04-17T07:30:00.000Z

16 Clarets players are currently out on season-long loan deals across nine leagues and three countries, including the Premier League, Vanarama National League North & Belgian Pro League.

That tally includes nine players from the academy here at the Club, with the vast majority looking up their respective leagues as we enter the real business end of the season. At senior level meanwhile, Enock Agyei enjoyed a draw against high-flying Gent.

Here’s a round-up of how the first eight loanees, in alphabetical order, have fared over the last week. Make sure to look out for ‘Loan Watch: Part Two’ to keep up to date with how the other eight fared.

Bobby Thomas (Barnsley)

Thomas and Barnsley look certain to finish in the top six in Sky Bet League One, and kept their sights set on the top two for an automatic promotion spot over the weekend with a thumping 5-1 win away against now-relegated Forest Green Rovers.

The Tykes are now just four points off the top two with five games left to play, and centre back Thomas has played every minute of their last 17 matches.

This week’s game(s): TUE – Lincoln City (A) & SAT – Oxford United (H)

CJ Egan-Riley (Hibernian)

Up in Scotland, Egan-Riley wrote his name into Hibs folklore at the weekend as one of the players on show as they won their first Edinburgh derby against Hearts in 10 meetings.

He played 88 minutes as Lee Johnson’s side won 1-0 at Easter Road against their rivals, meaning that with one game remaining until the Scottish Premiership splits, they’re hanging onto a spot in the top half.

EGAN-RILEY DETERMINED TO COME BACK STRONGER - Image 3

This week’s game(s): SAT – St Johnstone (A)

Dane McCullough (Hyde United)

Full-back McCullough is another chasing promotion with his loan club, and Hyde snuck back into the Northern Premier League Premier Division’s play-off spots on Saturday with a 4-0 win at home against Marine.

Only in the top six by the virtue of goal difference at present, the Tigers play their last regular season game this weekend as they visit Warrington Town who themselves have already secured a spot in the play-offs.

This week’s game(s): SAT – Warrington Town (A)

Dara Costelloe (Bradford City)

Irishman Costelloe wasn’t involved for Bradford on Saturday as they won 3-0 away at Rochdale, where fellow Clarets loanee Owen Dodgson is currently.

With that win, the Bantams moved to within two points of the top three, who go up automatically, and went five clear inside the play-off spots. Sat 6th, they have five left to play this term.

This week’s game(s): TUE – Swindon Town (A) & SAT – Gillingham (H)

Enock Agyei (K.V. Mechelen)

As mentioned above, Sunday saw young attacker Agyei help Mechelen to a 1-1 draw at home against Gent, who had drawn against West Ham United by the same scoreline in the UEFA Europa Conference League three days prior.

Agyei played 73 minutes for Steven Defour’s side, who will finish comfortably in mid-table this season in the Belgian Pro League. This weekend, Agyei faces his – and Vincent Kompany’s – former club RSC Anderlecht.

This week’s game(s): SUN – Anderlecht (H)

Finn Armstrong (Curzon Ashton)

Enjoying a fine run of form individually and as a unit, Armstrong & Curzon made it eight games unbeaten on Saturday with a dramatic comeback to earn a point from a 2-2 draw at Blyth Spartans.

Trailing 2-0, the Nash netted in the 81st and 92nd minutes respectively, moving to within three points of the play-off spots in the Vanarama National League North with four games still to play.

This week’s game(s): TUE – Darlington (A) & SAT – Boston United (H)

Harry Moss (Padiham)

Goalkeeper Moss has been unable to break back into Padiham’s side since the Storks’ number one recovered from injury. He is however eligible for the academy side’s squads here at the club during his loan.

Accordingly, he appeared on the bench for the U21s in their 2-0 win at Stockport County in a friendly on Tuesday night. Padiham meanwhile lost out 3-2 at Litherland REMY on Saturday.

This week’s game(s): THURS – Barnoldswick Town (A) & SAT – Squires Gate (H)

Joe McGlynn (Kidderminster Harriers)

Striker McGlynn also wasn’t involved with his loan club this week, with his omission from Kidderminster’s squad injury related.

Russell Penn’s side won 3-0 at home against an already relegated AFC Telford United on Saturday, their fourth victory in a row. The Harriers are a point outside the play-offs with two matches remaining this term, currently unbeaten in seven.

This week’s game(s): SAT – Southport (A)