LFC CHRISTMAS GIFTS

UP THE REDS!

Loan Watch: March Round-Up

Liverpool currently have 17 players out on loan. At the end of last week, it was confirmed Martin Kelly has joined Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the season and was immediately included for the squad for their game against Hereford this weekend where he was an unused substitute.

While Academy midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic has joined League One leaders Leicester City on loan until the end of the season.

Ajdarevic now joins fellow loan stars Jack Hobbs and David Martin on loan at Nigel Pearson’s team. Leicester City‘s unbeaten run of 23 games came to an end in March when they went down 2-0 to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. Unfortunately Martin failed to make an appearance for Leicester this month after suffering form a a rib/back problem during City’s 1-1 draw with Swindon back in February. Former Liverpool keeper Tony Warner has now joined the club on loan from Hull City.

However, the star of Liverpool players out on loan has been Jack Hobbs (pictured) who played the full 90 minutes of every game for Leicester this month helping them to a 1-1 draw with Stockport, a 4-0 win over Cheltenham, a 1-0 victory over Millwall at the New Den, the following game saw Leicester draw 1-1 with Colchester United at the Walkers Stadium with Hobbs again producing a solid display in defence for Leciester while this weekend Hobbs again played the full 90 minutes in Leicester‘s 2-0 defeat to Peterborough.

Paul Anderson is currently in a relegation battle with Nottingham Forest who are currently lying 22nd in the Championship. Anderson started the month playing the full 90 minutes of Forests’ 2-1 win over Preston North End. Anderson had a great opportunity of getting his name on the scoresheet when Osbourne’s cross found him and just got to the ball ahead of a Preston defender, heading towards goal and forcing Lonergan to dive to his right to make an excellent save.

The following game saw Anderson help Forest to a 1-1 draw with Swansea. Anderson nearly opened the scoring when he sent shot low towards goal from 25 yards out which had Swansea’s keeper Dorus De Vries beaten, but the ball crept just past the far post. However, Anderson had to withdraw from the game at half time due to injury. He then missed the following 2-1 defeat at Watford and the 5-0 defeat to Burnley due to injury. He returned to the starting line up last week but couldn’t prevent Forest losing 1-0 to Wolves at The City Ground.

Meanwhile, Peter Gulacsi and Godwin Antwi have all enjoyed a successful month with Hereford with Gulacsi earning very good reviews among Hereford fans.

Adam Hammill maintained his impressive form for Barnsley this month, and started the month playing 82 minutes in their 3-1 defeat to Cardiff. The following game saw Hammill on the substitute bench as Barnsley were held to a 1-1 draw with Birmingham, but he did play the final 13 minutes and almost won the game for the Yorkshire club in stoppage time when he saw his shot blocked from Campbell-Ryce’s corner.

The next game seen Barnsley crash into the Championship relegation zone following a disappointing home defeat against Blackpool. Hammill came back into the starting line up for this game and produced a man of the match performance. He had a very impressive game and had numerous chances to put Barnsley ahead, especially on 44 minutes when his effort struck a defender and looped Paul Rachubka but the ball landed on the roof of the net. In the first half stoppage time, Hammill again forced goalkeeper Rachubka into a worrying moment when his free kick looked to be heading for the top corner but for the keepers’ fine save. Barnsley started the second half strongly and could have had a penalty on 48 minutes when Hammill burst past Adam and Baptiste only to be sandwiched out of it in the area. Nothing was given. Hammill almost had his goal on the hour mark as he twisted and turned his way into a shooting position on the edge of the box before bringing an outstanding diving save from Rachubka. Hammill went close with the corner as his swinging cross evaded the Blackpool keeper and only Baptiste’s header stopped the ball dropping into the net.

Hammill kept his place in the starting line up for the following game when Barnsley beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at the Oakwell. He was again a constant threat and was involved in Barnsley secong goal when Kozluk burst into the area on 53 minutes before fizzing the ball across the face of goal to give Hammill a tap in only for Hills to turn it into an empty net for an own goal. Hammill was later substituted in the 79th minute. Unfortunately Hammill missed Barnsley’s final game of the month against Derby County due to an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Hammill hasn’t given up hope of a summer with the England U21’s at the European Championships. Adam told the Yorkshire Evening Post:

“It would just be great to do well and get a shot at the under-21s. You never know do you? I’ve played in the 18s and the 19s and it would be nice to get a bit of recognition, but you have got to put in the performances to warrant a call up. Hopefully, I can do that in the next few weeks. On a personal note that would be one of the best achievements I’ve had. It was great to represent the 18s and 19s and to represent the 21s would be a dream come true.”

Craig Lindfield has been in impressive form for Accrington Stanley this month and has started every game for the League 2 side this month. He also became Accrington’s hero during their 2-1 victory over Exeter. Lindfield fired home a Chris Turner’s cross on 64 minutes to claim his second goal for Accrington. Meanwhile, on loan Bulgarian goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov also featured for Twente in their 2-0 win over Willem II this month. Mihaylov has been finding first team action very limited this season. The captain of the youth national team started the game due to an injury to veteran Sander Boschker.

While over in Holland, at the time of writing Jordy Brouwer has played 5 first team games for Dutch outfit RKC Waalwijk in which he started 3 of those games. Overall, he has feature in 216 minutes and has yet to register a goal. The 19-year-old forward moved to Holland on loan at the end of January until the end of the season after Reds manager Rafa Benitez agreed he should be offered the opportunity of first-team experience.

See also: Kop Star March Review and Player of the Month Vote