LOAN WATCH (2023, 2)

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EFL Play-Offs commence as Harriers are promoted and United remain in UCL spots

2023-05-15T10:01:18.887Z

LOAN WATCH (2023, 2)

EFL Play-Offs commence as Harriers are promoted and United remain in UCL spots

2023-05-15T10:01:18.887Z

EFL Play-Offs commence as Harriers are promoted and United remain in UCL spots

Seven Clarets players are currently out on season-long loan deals across six leagues and two countries, including the Premier League, Vanarama National League North & Scottish Premiership.

That tally includes two players from the academy here at the Club, with Joe McGlynn’s Kidderminster Harriers teammates yesterday securing promotion up to the Vanarama National League. Elsewhere at senior level, the EFL Play-Offs began with Clarets involved across all three tiers.

Here’s a round-up of how the seven loanees, in alphabetical order, have fared since our last edition of ‘Loan Watch’ on 9th May.

Bobby Thomas (Barnsley)

Now an ever-present for the Tykes in the last 24 games, Thomas is vying for promotion from Sky Bet League One, and Bolton Wanderers currently stand in his way.

In the first leg of the semi-final tie on Saturday afternoon, it finished 1-1 at the University of Bolton Stadium with visitors Barnsley having gone ahead before being pegged back. It’s all to play for with a place at Wembley on the line in the return leg at Oakwell on Friday.

This week’s game(s): FRI – Bolton Wanderers (H – PO SF 2nd Leg)

CJ Egan-Riley (Hibernian)

One of only two loanees to not be involved in the play-offs, Egan-Riley is up in Scotland with Hibs who on Saturday picked up a valuable point away at Aberdeen courtesy of a goalless draw in the second of their ‘split’ fixtures.

EGAN-RILEY DETERMINED TO COME BACK STRONGER - Image 2

Keeping a clean sheet, the versatile youngster played the full 90 minutes for the second game running, and Lee Johnson’s side are now firmly chasing a European place with four left to play. Their next two come against Rangers and Celtic..

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

Dara Costelloe (Bradford City)

Having secured their top seven spot on the last day of the season, the Bantams headed into a two-legged tie against Carlisle United for a spot at Wembley in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs.

Irishman Costelloe wasn’t named in the squad yesterday, but it was a winning start for Mark Hughes’ side as they picked up a 1-0 victory on home soil and now take a slender advantage with them up to Brunton Park for the return leg on Saturday.

This week’s game(s): SAT – Carlisle United (A – PO SF 2nd Leg)

Joe McGlynn (Kidderminster Harriers)

Scottish youth international McGlynn hasn’t been involved in Kidderminster’s games for a number of weeks through injury, but yesterday his Harriers teammates secured promotion up from the Vanarama National League North in style.

Having sneaked into the play-offs in the sixth tier on the last day of the season, Russell Penn’s side had to achieve promotion the hard way, with all three games coming away from home.

The latest of those, in the final, was a 2-0 success at Brackley Town, and they will play in the fifth tier next term, bringing an end to six years in the Vanarama National League North with a total of nine wins on the bounce.

McGlynn, who will now return to the Clarets, made six appearances for Kidderminster during his loan spell.

Luke McNally (Coventry City)

Aiming to follow Burnley up to the Premier League are Coventry, where Clarets defender McNally has played every minute since joining on loan in January.

Middlesbrough are the Sky Blues’ semi-final opponents in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and on Sunday the pair played out a goalless draw at the Coventry Building Society Arena as McNally kept a ninth clean sheet in 20 appearances.

Wednesday night sees the return leg up in the North East, and also brings a 2nd visit to the Riverside Stadium for McNally & co. having played out the last game of the regular season there on 8th May. Accordingly, it’ll be three meetings between the two sides in just nine days.

This week’s game(s): WED – Middlesbrough (A – PO SF 2nd Leg)

Will Norris (Peterborough United)

Enjoying arguably the best result of the week was goalkeeper Norris, striving for promotion from Sky Bet League One with Peterborough.

Only sneaking into the play-offs in the third tier on the last day of the season against the odds, Sheffield Wednesday are the Posh’s last-four opponents.

The Owls finished 19 points ahead of Peterborough in the league, but Norris kept a clean sheet on home soil in a dominant 4-0 thumping victory in the first leg of the semi-final tie on Friday night, his 11th clean sheet in 23 games as a loanee.

This week’s game(s): THURS – Sheffield Wednesday (A – PO SF 2nd Leg)

Wout Weghorst (Manchester United)

Rounding off ‘Loan Watch’ is Dutch striker Weghorst, who – with United in the Premier League – is aiming to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Wembley heartbreak for two Clarets but Weghorst helps Red Devils into Champions League

Coming off the bench for the final 21 minutes, and helping to see the game out, the forward played his part in a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag’s side picked up a 2nd league win in five, and with three left to play, they’re now four points ahead of Liverpool who sit 5th.

This week’s game(s): SAT – AFC Bournemouth (A)