LFC Loan Watch: Ojo makes instant impact and Vigouroux in Swindon U-turn

We round up how Liverpool’s loanees performed for their temporary clubs last week, with a disappointing amount of action as injuries pile up.

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Sheyi Ojo (Wolves)

Ojo started a good week of action with another impressive performance when coming off the bench – scoring and assisting in Wolves’ midweek 3-0 win over Fulham.

The 18-year-old was introduced at half-time with the home side down to 10 men for the second 45, and made an instant impact, creating Adam Le Fondre’s opening goal, firing a right-footed shot that the striker glanced in to the far corner.

Three minutes later, Ojo registered on the scoresheet himself, as he squeezed a low drive just inside the near post to double Wolves’ lead after driving at the Fulham defence.

His excellent impact saw him rewarded with a start on Saturday in Wolves’ 3-0 win over Huddersfield – of which he played an hour.

Ojo operated on the left of a four-man midfield, and though not directly contributing a goal or assist, looked lively throughout and certainly played his part in a solid team performance that moved Kenny Jackett’s men to within three points of the play-off places.

 

Lawrence Vigouroux, Kevin Stewart & Jordan Williams (Swindon Town)

ANFIELD, ENGLAND - Friday, August 22, 2014: Welsh players Liverpool's Jordan Williams and Manchester United's Tom Lawrence during the Under 21 FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

With Vigouroux back at Anfield and Stewart sidelined through injury, Williams was the only of the three Reds to play for Swindon last Tuesday night – hours before the Wiltshire club confirmed the ‘keeper would be returning after being sent back to Anfield for “disciplinary reasons.”

The Welshman completed 90 minutes in Town’s 2-2 draw against Doncaster Rovers, playing in central defence, from where he started the move for the first goal and turned in a decent all-round display.

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But, completing a remarkable U-turn, Vigouroux resumed his role as Town’s No.1 on Saturday – though he couldn’t prevent his side slipping to a 1-0 defeat in a game Williams missed through a knee injury.

It was down to the good work of the Chilean that the Robins didn’t suffer a heavier loss however, with the 21-year-old producing a string of good stops to keep the score down.

 

Danny Ward & Ryan McLaughlin (Aberdeen)

CHARLOTTE, USA - Friday, August 1, 2014: Liverpool's goalkeeper Danny Ward during a training session at the Bank of America Stadium on day twelve of the club's USA Tour. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Ward endured a rare afternoon to forget for Aberdeen on Saturday, as the Dons slumped to a horrendous 5-1 home defeat against St. Johnstone.

The Reds stopper conceded the same amount of goals in one game against the Saints as he had in the previous nine league matches combined, and though there was little he could do about most goals, the Welshman will be disappointed that he didn’t stop at least two with his poor kick directly contributing to the visitors’ fifth of the day.

McLaughlin continues to see his action limited at Pittodrie, however, with the Northern Irish right-back an unused substitute for the heavy defeat.

 

Lloyd Jones (Blackpool)

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Centre-back Jones played 90 minutes last Tuesday night for Blackpool, turning in a strong performance and keeping a clean sheet that helped the Tangerines’ record their first home win since January.

The defender picked up an ankle injury in additional time, leading to him returning to Anfield for a scan and treatment.

The knock ruled him out of action on Saturday, with Jones forced to watch on from the sidelines as his side recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in two years, beating Swindon 1-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Disappointingly for the youngster, he now faces a spell of two to three months in the treatment room – a real blow for the 19-year-old, who had enjoyed a good amount of action and had been progressing well.

 

Luis Alberto (Deportivo La Coruna)

OSLO, NORWAY - Wednesday, August 7, 2013: Liverpool's Luis Alberto in action against Valerenga during a preseason friendly match at the Ullevaal Stadion. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool’s in-form Spanish midfielder made his fourth start of the season for Deportivo La Coruna in their 1-1 draw against relegation battling Granada.

The attacking midfielder played 68 minutes of the clash on the left side of a three-man attacking midfield, before being withdrawn with the scores level having producing a quieter performance than in recent weeks.

 

Sergi Canos (Brentford)

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Monday, February 16, 2015: Liverpool's Sergi Canos in action against Sunderland during the Under 21 FA Premier League match at the Kirkby Academy. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Young midfielder Canos played the final 20 minutes of Brentford’s 2-0 home defeat against Birmingham on Tuesday night – and struggled to make an impact as his side slumped to defeat in former Everton midfielder Lee Carsley’s first match in charge.

The Spaniard again started on the bench for the Bees on Saturday, but played the second half of their 2-0 defeat at Derby County.

With Canos’ side two goals down at half-time, caretaker boss Carsley introduced the Reds loanee as the Bees searched for a way back into the game – but entering into a difficult scenario, the youngster couldn’t quite make the impact hoped for as the scoreline remained the same.

 

The Rest

After making a hugely positive impression almost immediately on arrival to Fenerbahce, Lazar Markovic frustratingly faces a spell of around three weeks now on the sidelines.

The talented 21-year-old was forced off through injury just 35 minutes into the Istanbul derby against Besiktas – in which he impressed greatly in the front three – after suffering a back injury.

As a result, the pacy attacker missed his side’s successive 2-2 draws against Celtic in the Europa League and Akhisar Belediyespor in the league.

Hot prospect Ryan Kent played 90 minutes and turned in another lively display for Coventry in their comfortable 3-0 win over Shrewsbury on Saturday.

The talented youngster operated from the right side of the attacking midfield three, and was again at the heart of much of the Sky Blues’ dangerous play – despite not directly contributing a goal or assist – playing his part in a confidence-boosting result for Tony Mowbray’s promotion hopefuls.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - Wednesday, August 19, 2015: Liverpool's Harry Wilson in action against Everton during the Under 21 FA Premier League match at Haig Avenue. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Wales international Harry Wilson was introduced as a second-half substitute for Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night in their 2-1 home defeat against Southend – but he didn’t make the impact boss Steve Davis would have hoped for in his 13 minutes on the field.

Disappointingly, Wilson wasn’t handed the chance to improve, with the 18-year-old an unused substitute for Davis’ side in their 2-1 home defeat to Chesterfield, leaving Crewe rooted to the bottom of the League One table.

Despite limited action for his club however, the youngster was called up to the Wales U21 squad for their upcoming European qualifier against Denmark next month.

Liverpool’s Italian striker Mario Balotelli missed AC Milan’s heavy 4-0 home defeat against Napoli on Sunday evening due to a muscle injury – which isn’t thought to be too serious, but also ended his chances of a recall to the Italy squad for the international games.

After a man-of-the-match display of a goal and two assists last time out, the Reds’ young Brazilian midfielder Allan Rodriguez de Souza endured somewhat of a quieter afternoon, as SJK lost 1-0 to HIFK on Monday night.

Allan was handed his fifth start for the Finnish outfit on Saturday despite the narrow 1-0 defeat, and played 90 minutes as his side bounced back to winning ways at the first attempt, overcoming Ilves 2-1 with the youngster enduring another subdued performance.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Friday, April 17, 2015: Liverpool's Samid Yesil celebrates scoring the third goal, his second, against Tottenham Hotspur during the Under 21 FA Premier League match at White Hart Lane. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

After netting his first for the club, German striker Samed Yesil kept his place in the Luzern starting lineup for their 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Lugano.

Yesil played 66 minutes of the stalemate before being withdrawn by Markus Babbel, as the German manager tried to drag his side back into the game at 1-0 down – which they did before conceding a 92nd-minute equaliser.

Andre Wisdom was surprisingly left out of the match-day squad for Norwich, who suffered a 2-1 defeat against Leicester on Saturday.

Portuguese centre back Tiago Ilori‘s wait for first-team involvement at Aston Villa goes on, with the defender again left out of contention by Tim Sherwood for the Villains’ 1-0 home defeat against Stoke.

Meanwhile, Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi continues his wait for action at FSV Frankfurt, where he was an unused substitute again on Friday night as the German second division side slumped to a heavy 4-0 home defeat against Heidenheim.