Harry Wilson and Herbie Kane have both been recognised in the EFL’s end-of-season honours, for their excellent form since leaving Liverpool on loan.
Wilson joined Derby County in July and Kane left for Doncaster Rovers in August, as two of 20 players to depart Merseyside for temporary moves this season.
As one of the most high-profile youngsters to head out on loan, all eyes have been on Wilson at Pride Park, as he continues his development ahead of a possible first-team role under Jurgen Klopp.
And while his performances have dipped since the turn of the year, he has made a big mark on the Championship, with 10 goals and two assists in 31 games in the English second tier.
He has also scored one and assisted one in three games in both the FA Cup and League Cup, including an incredible free-kick in Derby’s memorable victory over Man United in September.
Meanwhile, in his first season as a senior professional Kane has taken up a key role under Grant McCann at Doncaster, as a near ever-present in Rovers’ midfield.
A persistent groin injury has likely ruled him out for the remainder of the season, but in all competitions so far the 20-year-old has scored seven goals and laid on a further nine in 42 games.
Now, both Wilson and Kane have been honoured in the English Football League’s end-of-season awards, representing a huge accomplishment for the pair.
Kane has been named in the League One Team of the Season, alongside Barnsley duo Alex Mowatt and Cameron McGeehan in midfield, with Doncaster team-mate John Marquis also included.
And while Wilson missed out of the Championship equivalent, he has been nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award, and should be front-runner ahead of James Justin (Luton Town) and Max Aarons (Norwich City).
Along with Marko Grujic at Hertha Berlin, Wilson and Kane have been the two standout loan successes for Liverpool in 2018/19.
Both have an opportunity to impress Klopp when they return for pre-season, with the Reds’ insistence Kane sign a new contract before extending his spell at Doncaster in January perhaps a testament to their belief.
He and Grujic will both face a battle to prove themselves in a competitive midfield group, but Wilson has more hope of carving out a role as backup to the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Either way, their place in the EFL’s honours list underlines the progress Wilson and Kane have made this campaign.
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