LOAN WATCH: PART ONE (2023, 6)

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Armstrong goes 10 unbeaten with play-off chasing Curzon as Egan-Riley secures top half finish with Hibs

2023-04-24T07:30:00.000Z

LOAN WATCH: PART ONE (2023, 6)

Armstrong goes 10 unbeaten with play-off chasing Curzon as Egan-Riley secures top half finish with Hibs

2023-04-24T07:30:00.000Z

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 full-back Finn Armstrong this week helping Curzon Ashton extend their run to 10 games unbeaten. Elsewhere, at senior level, CJ Egan-Riley showed his versatility as Hibernian cemented a spot in the top six.

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)

There were two clean sheets for defender Thomas, chasing promotion from Sky Bet League One this term with Michael Duff’s Barnsley, who are now guaranteed a play-off spot.

After a goalless draw at Lincoln City on Tuesday night, the Tykes responded with a 2-0 win at home against Oxford United come Saturday afternoon, their ninth straight win at Oakwell. Automatic promotion is still possible, sat six points off the top two with three to play, including Ipswich Town tomorrow evening.

This week’s game(s): TUE – Ipswich Town (H) & SAT – MK Dons (A)

CJ Egan-Riley (Hibernian)

As mentioned above, Egan-Riley had to show his versatility to help get Hibs over the line into the Scottish Premiership’s top six as the league split. With the Clarets loanee playing 68 minutes at right-back, Lee Johnson’s men picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

Finishing 5th, a European push is now the aim when fixtures resume in a fortnight’s time. The ‘split’ games schedule is still awaited, with no SPL action this weekend due to the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Dane McCullough (Hyde United)

A full-back by trade, McCullough’s season at Hyde has now come to an end after the Tigers narrowly missed out on the play-offs in the Northern Premier League.

A last-day 3-1 defeat at Warrington Town, who themselves had already secured a spot in those play-offs, saw United finish 6th, a place and two points beneath the threshold. He will now return to the Club.

Dara Costelloe (Bradford City)

Still in the promotion hunt this term are Bradford, though Irishman Costelloe has struggled for game time of late under Mark Hughes, not in the squad for Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town, a first in 12 for City.

The forward returned to the bench for Saturday’s home game against Gillingham, but wasn’t called upon as a goal deep into added time by the visitors saw the points shared in a 2-2 draw. Hughes’ men are 7th, in the play-offs at the time of writing by the virtue of goal difference with three left to play.

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

Enock Agyei (K.V. Mechelen)

Fellow attacker Agyei is another whose league campaign has now come to an end after a mid-table 13th-place finish in the Belgian Pro League with Steven Defour’s Mechelen.

The youngster played 63 minutes in a dramatic 3-2 win at home against his former club Anderlecht on Sunday to round off proceedings. He does still have a Belgian Cup final to look forward to this weekend though, with Royal Antwerp standing between him and some silverware.

This week’s game(s): SUN – Royal Antwerp (N – Belgian Cup Final)

Finn Armstrong (Curzon Ashton)

Taking the headlines this week is Armstrong, whose play-off push with Curzon has never been in a stronger position after two further positive results over the last week. First appearing late on to help see out a 2-0 win at Darlington on Tuesday, he then played the full game in a 2-2 draw at home against Boston United on Saturday.

The Nash netted late on against Boston to salvage that draw, making it 10 unbeaten and taking the play-off race into the last week of the season in the Vanarama National League North. They currently sit two points outside, but have a game in hand on most of the teams around them.

This week’s game(s): TUE – AFC Fylde (H) & SAT – King’s Lynn Town (A)

Harry Moss (Padiham)

Padiham’s season in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division has now come to an end, with goalkeeper Moss not involved in their two games over the last week with their number one ‘keeper having recovered from injury.

For reference, they finished mid-table in 14th after a 1-1 draw at Barnoldswick Town on Thursday and a 3-1 win at home to Squires Gate on Saturday. Moss instead appeared on the bench for the Clarets’ U21s on Monday in their 1-1 draw at home with Bristol City, and he’ll now permanently return to the club.

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.

The Harriers, like Curzon, are still in the Vanarama National League North play-off mix after a 3-1 win at Southport on Saturday. With one game to play this week, they’re just one point outside the top seven.

This week’s game(s): SAT – Kettering Town (H)