LOAN WATCH (2023)

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LOAN WATCH (2023)

EFL Play-Offs bring agony & ecstasy with two Clarets Wembley bound

2023-05-22T09:42:39.704Z

LOAN WATCH (2023)

EFL Play-Offs bring agony & ecstasy with two Clarets Wembley bound

2023-05-22T09:42:39.704Z

EFL Play-Offs bring agony & ecstasy with two Clarets Wembley bound

Six Clarets players are currently out on season-long loan deals across two countries and five leagues, including the Scottish Premiership, Sky Bet League Two & Premier League.

That tally now includes one player from the academy here at the Club, with Bobby Thomas one of two Clarets who are Wembley-bound with their loan sides for a play-off final. Elsewhere, at senior level, Wout Weghorst and Manchester United’s race for a UEFA Champions League spot ramped up with a second successive victory.

Here’s a round-up of how the six loanees, in alphabetical order, have fared since our last edition of ‘Loan Watch’ on 15th May.

Bobby Thomas (Barnsley)

As mentioned above, centre back Thomas has reached the Sky Bet League One Play-Off final with Barnsley who – under the guidance of ex-Claret Michael Duff – are hunting an immediate return to the second tier.

Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final against Bolton Wanderers, the Tykes ran out 1-0 victors on Friday night at Oakwell, 2-1 successors on aggregate.

In that, Thomas picked up the 9th clean sheet in 24 appearances on loan in South Yorkshire, and the 25th could come next Monday – 29th May – at Wembley.

Game(s): MON [29th May] – Sheffield Wednesday (N – PO Final)

CJ Egan-Riley (Hibernian)

Versatile youngster Egan-Riley’s aim up in Scotland is to help Hibs into a European qualification spot, though that target took a knock yesterday with a 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Easter Road.

EGAN-RILEY DETERMINED TO COME BACK STRONGER - Image 1

The Clarets loanee played 81 minutes at left-back in that defeat, and Lee Johnson’s side now sit 5th heading into the last week of the campaign, four points outside the top four.

Rivals Hearts sit 4th, and the pair meet in the final game of the season on Saturday. Before that for Egan-Riley & co., there's the visit of champions Celtic.

Game(s): WED – Celtic (H) & SAT – Hearts (A)

Dara Costelloe (Bradford City)

Though not involved in the squad, Irishman Costelloe suffered play-off heartbreak with Bradford on Saturday as they were denied a Wembley visit by Carlisle United.

The Bantams led 1-0 heading into the second leg up at Brunton Park, losing 3-1 after extra time and missing out with a 3-2 aggregate scoreline in favour of the Blues.

Carlisle will now play Stockport County for a place in Sky Bet League One, while versatile attacker Costelloe will return to the Club with 11 City appearances to his name during the loan spell.

Luke McNally (Coventry City)

Fellow Irishman McNally will enjoy the Wembley buzz this week having got to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off final with Coventry, where he hasn’t missed a minute of action since joining in January.

Having played out a goalless draw with Middlesbrough in the first leg of their semi-final on home soil, the Sky Blues took a 1-0 victory at the Riverside on Wednesday evening to set up a showdown in the capital with Luton Town this weekend coming.

Defender McNally has now kept 10 clean sheets in 21 City appearances, and he could help his loan side to follow Burnley into the Premier League.

Game(s): SAT – Luton Town (N – PO Final)

Will Norris (Peterborough United)

There could’ve been a Sky Bet League One Play-Off final between two Clarets had Peterborough reached Wembley, where Barnsley and Bobby Thomas await.

Instead, it will be Sheffield Wednesday who take on the Tykes in the capital a week today after completing one of – if not the - most memorable comeback in play-off history.

Norris and the Posh led 4-0 from the first leg on home soil, but would concede with a fourth of their own with very last kick of the game in 90 minutes at Hillsborough to take it into extra time.

Going on to net first in the first half of extra time, Darren Ferguson’s side then conceded again late on with the tie heading to penalties, losing the shootout 5-3 at the culmination of a 5-5 draw over two legs. The goalkeeper will now return to the Clarets having made 24 appearances during his loan spell.

Wout Weghorst (Manchester United)

Striker Weghorst rounds off ‘Loan Watch’ on a high having come off the bench 57 minutes in to help United to a vital 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

Those three points look to have all but sealed a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season for the Red Devils, who could now only miss out on goal difference with the final two league games of the season to come this week.

Game(s): THURS – Chelsea (H) & SUN – Fulham (H)