Players Out On Loan

[Don Diaz]

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

The 20-year-old left wing-back is back in action after missing out on Udinese's final three Serie A matches prior to the break due to a flexor muscle injury.


He returned with an assist last week in the 1-1 home draw with Empoli, getting 81 minutes under his belt, and then on Saturday he played 69 minutes of the 1-0 defeat at Juventus.

After the game, Udinese boss Andrea Sottil praised the youngster in his press conference but explained what he still needs to improve on.


"He is extraordinary, he has to take care of the defensive phase and sometimes try to put fast balls in the middle without touching the ball too many times," he said. "Today he had a limited playing time, it must be managed because he had a delicate injury. We recovered him for tonight with a reduced playing time, but he has grown a lot."

Udogie has played 13 Serie A games this season for Udinese, scoring twice and laying on two assists from his wing-back position as he continues to develop ahead of his move to north London.

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

Another Spurs player in Italy is Harry Winks and the 26-year-old midfielder had a big moment this season for him when he finally made a matchday squad for Sampdoria in Serie A.

The Tottenham academy product has had an injury nightmare since joining the Italian club on loan. Failing to make an appearance for the Genoa-based club and having to undergo ankle surgery, the midfielder had continued to train away from his teammates as he looked to get back to full fitness.

Sampdoria need him back sooner rather than later as they face a fight for survival as they are currently six points adrift of safety after 17 games and he returned to the bench as an unused substitute on Sunday for the 0-2 home defeat to Tanguy Ndombele's Napoli.

Winks posted on his Instagram account the following day: "After a long and very difficult time injured, was good to finally be with the team last night!"

Last month while recovering after his surgery, he told SampNews24: "At the moment, I feel good. I’m proceeding gradually with the recovery. In fact, it’s only been six weeks since my operation, so I need time to get back into shape.

“Now that I’m training separately on the field, I have the opportunity to see my teammates and have a comparison. I’m still physically behind them, but every day is a little bit more and for me, it’s a small win."

On suggestions his loan might be cut short, he added: "I absolutely want to play for Sampdoria. The last four months have been very complicated, for the team and also for me. Lots of bad luck. I’m working hard to come back, including holidays. It was and is frustrating not being able to play or train with the team, but I have to stay strong and aim for the goal, and I trust that I the next five months of the league, we will be able to do well."

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

Completing the hat-trick of Tottenham players in Italy is Tanguy Ndombele, who has been getting game time for runaway Serie A leaders Napoli.

The 26-year-old Frenchman has played 20 times for the Italian side in the league and Champions League although he has found himself in and out of the starting line-up, with a substitute role in the past three matches. He came on for the final 24 minutes of the victory against Winks' Sampdoria on Sunday evening.

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti could be heard at the end of the previous match, a 1-0 defeat at Inter, shouting on the pitch at Ndombele in English: "Why you stay there? Why you stay there?" and pointing to an area of the pitch before a heated discussion between the two men with the Frenchman trying to walk away.

Whatever the disagreement was about, Ndombele did get more than the 14 minutes he got in that defeat in the next match at Sampdoria so it would seem the two men then ironed out the issue in private.

Joe Rodon (Rennes)

Joe Rodon continues to wait for game time for Rennes as he spent another match as an unused substitute for the French side, as they won 2-1 at Bordeaux in the third round of the Coupe de France on Saturday.

The Welshman, who got plenty of experience at the World Cup last month, is yet to feature in Ligue 1 since the middle of October following suspension, illness and then dropping down to the bench.

Rennes are set to play Clermont away on Wednesday night before welcoming PSG on Sunday evening and Rodon will be hoping to get some minutes back in his legs.

football.london understands that if all parties agree then Rodon could return from his loan in January in order to try his luck elsewhere.

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

Sergio Reguilon is looking for a far more positive 2023 than 2022 and it's certainly started that way with minutes in three consecutive La Liga matches and time on the pitch in the Copa del Rey.

The 26-year-old began having a groin issue back in April when he was at Tottenham and he had to undergo surgery on the problem and it wasn't until the end of October that the Spaniard could make Diego Simeone's squad for the first time. He then needed to go to hospital with stomach problems after making his return.

Reguilon claimed 2022 was the "worst year" of his life in an Instagram post on New Year's Eve.

“The worst year of my life is over," penned the left-back. “Unfortunately, this photo symbolizes my year. It has been a year of much pain, suffering, injections, surgeries and more surgeries. I haven't been able to do anything for eight months, while football is my life. I kept wondering when I would finally be a football player again.

“I am very grateful to those who have stood by my side during these difficult times. I also want to thank everyone at Atletico Madrid for their trust and the way they have welcomed me. I've felt loved from day one

“I am convinced that all those bad moments I had to endure have made me a stronger person. This will serve me well both in football and in life. The year ends in the best way possible, finally I'm back."

However, the left-back is now on the road back and he got eight minutes from the bench in the 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona on Sunday after 14 minutes at Real Oviedo in the cup in midweek.

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Lo Celso remains out with the hamstring injury that saw him miss out on Argentina's victorious World Cup squad. The midfielder may not have been part of Lionel Scaloni's 26-man party but he was present in Qatar during the final week of the tournament as he could be seen on the pitch celebrating their success with his international teammates.

Troy Parrott (Preston North End)

Parrott will be back on the pitch for Preston North End soon after recovering from the freak hamstring injury he sustained after scoring the winner away at Norwich City in early October.

Preston boss Ryan Lowe was waiting for the green light from Tottenham for the young striker to return to action and he got that this week.

"Troy has trained well the last four days. He has been given the all clear by Tottenham. Saturday [in the FA Cup] might come too soon for him and Robbie, who is back on the grass, but we have to be cautious with them," he said.

Preston return to action in the Championship on Saturday with the visit of Norwich and Parrott will be hoping to make his own long-awaited return.

Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)

Dane Scarlett was ineligible to play for Portsmouth against Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The striker was not allowed to play against his parent club in the 1-0 win for Spurs and instead watched from the sidelines, coming down to the tunnel area to greet the players as they came off after the game. Son Heung-min was clearly delighted to see his young team-mate, hugging him and sticking around for a long chat.

There has been speculation that Scarlett will be brought back from Portsmouth and then loaned out again and he was not starting regularly in the final weeks of Danny Cowley's reign. Spurs will no doubt look closely at what comes next at Portsmouth before making their decision.

Pompey caretaker boss Simon Bassey said after Saturday's game: "I think it has been a good loan, certainly for Dane and us also. Obviously a young boy, but super talented. He is a brilliant kid, humble, hard-working, everything you look for in a top player.

"He will be a top player, I have no doubt about that. I see no reason that Tottenham want to call him back and if they do, I am sure we will take Harry Kane off them instead!"

Scarlett will be hoping to play tonight (Tuesday) when Pompey travel to Bolton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the Papa John's Trophy.

Thanks for the comprehensive update.

 

[USspur]

Destiny Udogie praise, Ndombele's Mourinho reunion as Harry Winks roars back

Here's the latest on Tottenham Hotspur's large group of loan players who are out on loan across the Football League and Europe

www.football.london

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

Udogie remains a constant starter for Udinese as he played for 85 minutes as they drew 1-1 at home against Hellas Verona on Monday evening.

Always looking to attack, the 20-year-old had two shots, one of which was off target and played one key pass as well as embarking on one dribble. However, he did sling three crosses into the Verona box without finding a team-mate. At the other end of the pitch he made one tackle and completed three interceptions and blocked one Verona shot.


"We watch every game so scouts, they’re responsible for loans, so we follow [Udogie], he is doing very well, he is playing every game so I think this is the right way for him to improve and to be ready for next season," said Paratici.

"He is a wing-back, he has a really, really, really good left foot, offensive phases are really good, he creates a lot of opportunities to score, make assists so he’s a complete player."

Joe Rodon (Rennes)

After helping Rennes to a famous 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain last time out this month, Rodon is back as a regular starter with four in a row.

The 25-year-old Wales international made two clearances, one tackle and blocked one shot in a solid display alongside 22-year-old Arthur Theate in a relatively young back four.

Another young player will join that defence in Djed Spence, who was registered too late to take part in the Ligue 1 fixture.

The 22-year-old had the choice of five clubs from across Europe and he rejected the likes of Atletico Madrid and Sassuolo in favour of week in, week out football at Rennes. He moved with the knowledge that the club had just lost captain Hamari Traore to an injury lay-off that could be two months or more after other injuries in that position, meaning Spence has a free run at games galore to develop himself in top flight football.

​

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

After finally making his Sampdoria debut last month, Harry Winks looks to be back on track after his ankle surgery with back to back starts for the club.

Winks, who turned 27 on Thursday, showed his fitness levels with 90 minute displays in both games, although struggling Sampdoria lost both games, including Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Atalanta. The Genoa-based club are struggling both on the pitch and off of it with financial problems.

Winks had come in for praise from Blucerchiati boss Dejan Stankovic late last month for his progress after his injury.

"I'm pleased for Winks as he’s back playing football again," the Serbian told the Italian club's official website. "He’s suffered so much, but he’s given his all to get back and help the team out. I don’t want to heap the pressure on him because we can only get out of this situation as a squad.

"I can see it in everyone’s eyes that there’s a desire to turn the situation around. We’re in for a fight and we mustn’t let up for even a second."

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

Ndombele faced a reunion with former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho as the Naples-based club beat Roma 2-1 on Sunday evening.

The Frenchman had his highs and lows under Mourinho during their time together in N17 but it was Ndombele's team who came out on top at the weekend.

However, Ndombele continues to struggle for minutes, coming on in the 89th minute in this game, having played just five minutes a week earlier in the 2-0 win at Salernitana.

The midfielder looks on course to become a Serie A title winner though with Napoli currently sitting 13 points clear at the top from second-placed Inter.

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

Reguilon was back on the bench after his red card suspension as Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at Osasuna on Sunday afternoon, however he remained an unused substitute.

The same role befell him in midweek as Atletico lost 3-1 away after extra-time against his old club Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Reguilon will have a former Spurs team-mate to link up with now in Madrid after Matt Doherty's deadline day free transfer to Atletico on a six-month contract.

​

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Lo Celso has taken a big step in his quest to return to match action by taking to the Villarreal training pitch in recent weeks.

The 26-year-old has been out of action since October after sustaining a hamstring injury that saw him cruelly miss out on a place in Argentina's successful World Cup squad and now it's a case of building up his fitness and sharpness.

Troy Parrott (Preston North End)

Parrott is awaiting his first start after recovering from a freak hamstring injury sustained after scoring the winner for Preston at Norwich City at the start of October, the player made his return against the Canaries in their recent 4-0 home defeat.

The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international came off the bench in Preston's last two Championship matches but was unable to play in the FA Cup defeat at Spurs due to the competition rules.

Speaking on The Weekend Warm Up on Preston's YouTube channel, the youngster admitted that he was "a bit gutted" after seeing Tottenham paired against his loan side in the fourth round of the competition.

"Obviously it will be a good game to watch at Deepdale. I was a bit gutted in a way that I can't play," he said. "Obviously all I need now is game time and minutes and stuff, so to miss out on another week of football is not ideal. It is what it is."

When asked if he will be able to fill in Ryan Lowe's side on Tottenham, the 20-year-old made it clear that would not be happening. "No, I'm staying out of that one," he laughed.

Parrott's next opportunity to play will be on Saturday when the Championship side host Bristol City at Deepdale.

Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)

Dane Scarlett was back in the starting line-up for Portsmouth on Saturday as they went down 2-1 at Peterborough.


The minutes had dried up for Scarlett of late as an unused substitute in new manager John Mousinho's first two league games in charge of the south coast club.

However, Spurs decided not to act in the one-week window they had to recall the 18-year-old last month. Mousinho duly responded by starting Scarlett at Peterborough and he got 86 minutes on the left of a front free, with a late equaliser ruled out for Pompey because the officials gave a marginal offside against the teenager.

 

[spurious]

Thanks for posting, USspur. Interesting to hear what's happening to all those atrophying assets.

 

[ClemFandango]

I'm keeping everything crossed the rumour I read about Napoli having an obligation to buy Fatty if they win the league is true.

 

[Don Diaz]

I'm keeping everything crossed the rumour I read about Napoli having an obligation to buy Fatty if they win the league is true.

He's getting less and less game time these days. Bloke is a lazy overpaid wanker

 

[NiceOneCyril]

He's getting less and less game time these days. Bloke is a lazy overpaid wanker

As a lazy overpaid wanker I feel personally slighted by this remark. At least I have no discernible talent to fritter away.

 

[Don Diaz]

As a lazy overpaid wanker I feel personally slighted by this remark. At least I have no discernible talent to fritter away.

No-ones paying €50million and £80k a week for you either, so carry on.........!!

 

[Yid]

No-ones paying €50million and £80k a week for you either, so carry on.........!!

The bit that gets me is you have to have some serious level of ability to get to that point... you have to be on your game and be serious about getting even better and reaching the top...

Yeah I know we've got 19 year old millionaire kids throughout the Premier league, but what you've posted above just shows how much of a wastrel the fat arsed cunt is.

How much wasted talent there is and no one seems to be able to get through to him that he has the raw ability to set a new bar (or at least help him reach his own ceiling)...

I hate, and I mean properly hate people who don't try... if you've got a gift or have serious skill that's fine... but if you don't couple that with graft then you're selling yourself and every other fucker who has invested anything into you, short...

Fuck Fatbele... I want him playing in the MLS eating poppeyes at half time the useless, lazy prick.

 

[Style And Glory]

The bit that gets me is you have to have some serious level of ability to get to that point... you have to be on your game and be serious about getting even better and reaching the top...

Yeah I know we've got 19 year old millionaire kids throughout the Premier league, but what you've posted above just shows how much of a wastrel the fat arsed cunt is.

How much wasted talent there is and no one seems to be able to get through to him that he has the raw ability to set a new bar (or at least help him reach his own ceiling)...

I hate, and I mean properly hate people who don't try... if you've got a gift or have serious skill that's fine... but if you don't couple that with graft then you're selling yourself and every other fucker who has invested anything into you, short...

Fuck Fatbele... I want him playing in the MLS eating poppeyes at half time the useless, lazy prick.

Long ago, I read a book that reference this.

It stated that, if you have a talent, you should not withhold it from the world. You should exhibit it, provide the joy it brings to others, & inspire them to dream & do the same. Imagine if the greats of various industries didn't reach AND share their potential. What would the world have been like without the likes of the Pele's, Tom Brady's, Robert DeNiro's, Meryl Streep's, Marlon Brando's, Wayne Gretzky's, Warren Buffet's, Gandhi's, Nelson Mandela's, Steven Spielberg's etc etc.?

The author equated it to "a sin against humanity" to deny the world of your potential.

 

[NiceOneCyril]

No-ones paying €50million and £80k a week for you either, so carry on.........!!

I try not to think about that, puts me off my rhythm.

On the money side, it's mind-boggling, but I suppose it is only a very small number of players who are on multi-million contracts, similar to other industries (not mine). The difference is that in any other industry, you'd be called out very quickly if you were a fraud (looking at you, Tanguy). Does anyone here know how the pay distribution is across the pyramid? Does the average Championship level player earn say 1/3 of what a PL player makes, or is 1/100th? Does a League Two player make enough not to have to ref kids' games at the weekend?

 

[USspur]

Tanguy Ndombele's rare feat, Reguilon returns but Spence and Scarlett frustrated

It's time to check in with Tottenham's army of loan players as many of them begin approaching the end of their time away from the club

www.football.london

Tottenham might be a chaotic mess but some of their loan players are looking to finish the season in style at other clubs.

Spurs have got 11 first team squad players away from the nest and out playing on loan at sides across England, France, Italy and Spain until the end of the campaign and all of them have enjoyed varying degrees of game time and success during the highs and lows of a campaign away from the north London outfit this season.

Here's how all of those Tottenham players got on during the course of the past seven days.

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

Tanguy Ndombele enjoyed rare back-to-back starts having seen out his one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season two weeks ago.

First the Frenchman played 63 minutes in Napoli's 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek, a result that put the latter through after their 1-0 first leg advantage.

Ndombele did enough to keep his place though and was handed 68 minutes - his first league start since November- in Napoli's crunch match away at Juventus. Giacomo Raspadori netted a dramatic 93rd minute winner that puts Napoli to within touching distance of the Serie A title.

Ndombele's side are now 17 points clear of second-placed Lazio with seven matches to play in the league. The 26-year-old has now totalled 1,1917 minutes of football for the Italian side this season.

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

Destiny Udogie got another 90 minutes to his name in the 3-0 victory against Cremonese on Sunday.

The 20-year-old wing-back received a 7.26 in Whoscored's player ratings for the match. In attack, the Italy U21 international had two shots at goal, one on target and two of his three long balls reached their man. At the other end of the pitch he made three tackles and two interceptions in a solid display.

Udogie has made 28 appearances this season for the Serie A side, scoring three goals and laying on three assists and looks set to arrive at a Tottenham without most, if not all, of the Italians that were there when he signed last summer.

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

For the second week in a row Harry Winks and Sampdoria picked up another point in a relegation crunch match in Serie A that they really needed to win.

It was the first time in 13 games that the 27-year-old midfielder has not completed the match as he went off with 11 minutes remaining and the score at 1-1 against 17th-placed Spezia as the hosts chased the winning goal they desperately needed but never came.

Financially-stricken Sampdoria sit bottom of the Serie A table and are 10 points from safety with seven matches to go.

Winks has now made 14 league appearances for them in the second half of the campaign since recovering from ankle surgery, becoming a lynchpin in the midfield.

Djed Spence and Joe Rodon (Rennes)

The return of Rennes captain Hamari Traore from injury has resulted in three consecutive matches left unused on the bench for Djed Spence.

The 22-year-old had to sit and watch on as Rennes lost 1-0 at Montpellier, who had a man sent off after 53 minutes, on Sunday, as his run of nine consecutive starts following his loan move in January now feels like a lifetime ago.

Joe Rodon was back on the bench after being left out entirely of the past two matchday squads, but like Spence he was another loan player not used against Montpellier.

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Lo Celso continues to rack up the starts after his return to full fitness but despite his 82 minutes of game time, Villarreal lost 2-1 at Bryan Gil's Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday.

The Argentine was however named as Whoscored's star man for his side with a 7.6 rating with three key passes and two shots as well as two tackles at the other end.

Lo Celso has provided back to back assists in the past two matches, but was unable to change the course of this match. He will be happy to be playing regularly again though after the serious injury that stopped him participating in Argentina's successful World Cup campaign.

The 27-year-old has now played 22 matches for Villarreal this season, contributing two assists and one goal.

Bryan Gil (Sevilla)

Bryan Gil had a week to remember. First he came on for the final 10 minutes as Sevilla tore apart Manchester United 3-0 in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

The 22-year-old then started and got 58 minutes under his belt in the 2-1 home win in La Liga on Sunday. Gil was the most accurate starter on the pitch with his passing with a 93.3% accuracy from his 15 attempts.

The young Spaniard, who earned a call-up back into the senior Spain squad last month, has played 15 times for Sevilla since joining in January and has registered one goal and two assists.

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

Reguilon finally made his return to the pitch for his first minutes in La Liga since January. He came on for the final 11 minutes in Atletico's 1-0 defeat at Barcelona on Sunday, following his return to full fitness from a thigh issue suffered in training. The left-back was initially ruled out for a month with the injury in late February but ended up missing double that amount of time.

Reguilon has not started a single La Liga match this season, having had injury problems and a stomach issue at one point that saw him hospitalised. Reguilon has played just 95 minutes in the competition this season across four matches.

Troy Parrott (Preston North End)

Troy Parrott has had a busy week in the Championship for Preston. In midweek he came off the bench for 21 minutes and scored as they lost 4-2 Swansea.

He was back in the starting line-up and played 90 minutes as Preston grabbed a late goal to draw 1-1 at home against Blackburn. Preston lie in 10th but only two points off sixth-placed Sunderland who hold the final play-off spot with two games to go. It's so tight that Swansea in 12th could yet get into the play-offs.

The 21-year-old was handed a six in the Lancashire Live player ratings with the review: "Never gave the Rovers back line a moment of peace and had moments. Was just waiting for that golden opening, which never came."

Parrott has got plenty of minutes this season around the knee injury he suffered before the World Cup break but the young striker will want to increase his goal output with just four goals from 32 matches this season.

Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)

Dane Scarlett was an unused substitute in both of Portsmouth's League One matches this week, the 1-1 draw at Oxford United in midweek and then the 1-0 home victory against Accrington on Saturday.

Scarlett has scored six goals and registered two assists in 40 games this season but the 19-year-old has found himself a bit part player since the change in manager at the club with John Mousinho using him sparingly compared to Danny Cowley.

 

[USspur]

Strange rule means Udogie suspended as Lo Celso scores with rare Reguilon moment

It's time to check in on the latest news surrounding all of Tottenham Hotspur's players out on loan across Europe this season

www.football.london

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Giovani Lo Celso came off the bench to score a late consolation goal for Villarreal in their 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

It was a rare header from the Argentine as he ghosted into the box unmarked to nod in a good cross from left-back Alfonso Pedraza.

Lo Celso had entered the game around the hour mark but could not turn around his team's fortunes despite his 83rd minute header.

The Argentina international is a wanted man with Aston Villa - where his former boss Unai Emery is in charge - and Villarreal both interested in taking him next season.

After such a frustrating first half of the term, with injury stopping him from featuring in Argentina's successful World Cup campaign, Lo Celso has been making up for lost time in the final weeks of the season with a string of promising performances, mostly from the bench, that have sparked that interest in his services.

Bryan Gil (Sevilla)

Bryan Gil continued his warm-up towards the Europa League final with a 62-minute stint as Sevilla went down 2-1 at home to Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Spaniard came off with the score at 1-1 but Real Madrid scored soon after his departure through Rodrygo. The hosts' task became even harder in the 83rd minute when Marcos Acuna was sent off for a reckless challenge.

Gil was one of the stars last week of Sevilla's dramatic extra-time victory at home against Juventus in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final. He and Sevilla will now meet former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho's Roma in the Europa League final next month.

The 22-year-old has so far made 22 appearances since arriving in the January transfer window, netting two goals and laying on three assists.

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

There was a first start of the season in La Liga for Sergio Reguilon. He played 70 minutes in Atletico's 2-1 victory against Real Sociedad at home on Sunday.

The Spaniard has finally been getting minutes to his name in recent weeks, with four appearances from the bench in the past six matches before this start.

Reguilon has only made 10 appearances in total for Atletico in what has been a nightmare season for the player since leaving Tottenham on loan due to injuries and illness.

Djed Spence and Joe Rodon (Rennes)

Djed Spence has already returned to Tottenham after picking up a knee injury and Joe Rodon continued in the way much of the second half of the campaign has gone for him with a unused appearance on the bench as Rennes beat Monaco 2-0 at home.

Rennes technical director Florian Maurice confirmed last week that the French club, who are fifth in Ligue 1, would not be looking to extend the loans of either of the Tottenham duo.

Rodon has played 21 times for Rennes during his season-long loan, scoring once, while Spence managed 10 appearances after his arrival in the winter window before the club's injured right-backs returned and he found himself out of the team and then matchday squads.

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

Destiny Udogie missed out on Udinese's penultimate game of the season - a 3-2 defeat at Salernitana - after picking up his fifth yellow card last week.

The 20-year-old collected four yellow cards in his first six matches of the season but has not had a booking since September. However, Serie A rules appear to have no cut off date during a season so when Udogie picked up his next yellow card eight months later he ended up missing this Sunday's game through an accumulation of five yellow cards.

Udogie has played 33 times for Udinese this season with 2,665 minutes to his name and three goals and four assists from left wing-back.

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

Harry Winks helped already-relegated Sampdoria to a point with another 90-minute showing in a 2-2 draw at home against Sassuolo on Friday.

Propping up the table, the Genoa-based club, who have big financial problems, are 12 points adrift of safety with a game remaining.

After recovering from ankle surgery Winks has played 20 times since the turn of the year, starting all but the first game after his return and has rarely been substituted.

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

Tanguy Ndombele was again an unused substitute as Napoli drew 2-2 at Bologna on Sunday. The Frenchman had played in every Serie A match all the way back to August until a recent spell of four matches in a row spent sitting unused on the bench.

Ndombele did though join the ever-lengthening list of Tottenham players who have left the club and won silverware after Napoli clinched their first Scudetto in 33 years.

The 26-year-old has made 40 appearances for the Italian champions this season and will have that title winner's medal on his CV when his loan ends this summer.

 

[USspur]

Destiny Udogie 'ready' for Spurs, Winks has surgery and Gil's emotional goodbye

It's time for one final check on Tottenham Hotspur's loan players as they ended their seasons away from the club across the continent

www.football.london

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

Destiny Udogie ended his time with Udinese before finally arriving at Spurs with another 90 minutes as they lost 1-0 at Juventus to end the Serie A season in 12th place.

The 20-year-old played 34 times for Udinese this season with 2,755 minutes to his name and three goals and four assists from left wing-back and he will now be looking to impress Postecoglou, having signed when Antonio Conte was in charge.


He posted a farewell message to the Udinese fans on Instagram that read: "I came to the end of my journey with this shirt, a club that gave me a lot and will forever be in my heart. I want to thank all those who have accompanied me in these two years, forever your fan. Thank you Udinese! #blessed."


In a statement on the Udinese website he said of his end to the season and his next step: "We all wanted to win and end the season with a positive result in front of our fans. This is football, we are very sorry.

"I have to thank the club so much for having invested and believed in me in these two seasons. I can't say anything but thank you. I knew my qualities, I just wanted to express them and Udinese gave me this great chance. I'm ready for the future and for the Premier League."

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

Harry Winks missed already-relegated Sampdoria's final match of the Serie A season against Napoli as he was preparing to undergo minor surgery on his left ankle.

It was reportedly a small end of season operation planned when he had his first operation on the ankle back in November. After a first half to the campaign without minutes because of the problem, that surgery allowed Winks to play 20 times since the turn of the year, starting all but the first game after his return and he was rarely substituted.

"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at @sampdoria for this season," he said on Instagram. "It was a very challenging season both on and off the pitch, but it was an honour to play for such an amazing football club with so much history and incredible fans. I have no doubt the club will return to where it belongs and with new investment can continue to be the amazing club the fans deserve. #forzadoria."

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

Tanguy Ndombele did not feature for Napoli in that 2-0 home win against Sampdoria on Sunday, having been an unused substitute in the final five games of the Serie A season. The Frenchman had played in every Serie A match all the way back to August until this recent spell without involvement.

Ndombele did though join the ever-lengthening list of Tottenham players who have left the club and won silverware after Napoli clinched their first Scudetto in 33 years.

The 26-year-old made 40 appearances for the Italian champions this season and will have that title winner's medal on his CV when he returns to find out his fate under Postecoglou.

​

Bryan Gil (Sevilla)

Bryan Gil ended his season with a winner's medal after winning the Europa League with Sevilla in midweek. The 22-year-old played the first half of the final against Jose Mourinho's Roma before being replaced by former Spurs man Erik Lamela as the Spanish side went on to win on penalties.

Gil had been one of the stars of Sevilla's dramatic extra-time victory at home against Juventus in the second leg of their semi-final. On Sunday he was an unused substitute as the club ended the La Liga season with a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad.

Gil made 24 appearances for Sevilla after arriving in the January transfer window, netting two goals and laying on three assists.

The young winger said in a heartfelt Instagram post: "Thank you to all the Sevilla family for the love and happiness you have made me feel in this short time. Winning a title with the team that watched you grow up is the greatest thing football gave me.

"I have been very happy here despite the bad times we have suffered together, but this season has not been able to be more present the "Never Give Up" and the "Caste and Courage" that so much define this club. Wish you all the best for future, will miss you a lot. Long live the @sevillafc."

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Giovani Lo Celso ended his season at Villarreal with 24 minutes from the bench on Sunday in the 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.

After such a frustrating first half of the term, with injury stopping him from featuring in Argentina's successful World Cup campaign, Lo Celso has been making up for lost time in the final weeks of the season with a string of promising performances, mostly from the bench, that have sparked interest in his services.

The Argentina international, who made 29 appearances this season, is a wanted man with Aston Villa - where his former boss Unai Emery is in charge - and Villarreal both interested in taking him next season.

The 27-year-old signed off with a message to the Villarreal fans on Instagram that read: "Another season is gone. Good times and others not so much, but always facing challenges as a new learning. Thank you so much @villarrealcf for letting me be a part of this year as special as the centennial year was. Thank you to those always for the unconditional support. Time orders everything in its place."

​

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

Up against Lo Celso on Sunday was his Spurs team-mate Sergio Reguilon. After getting his first start last week of what has been a nightmare season for the player since leaving Tottenham on loan due to injuries and illness, the 26-year-old was handed back to back starts with 84 minutes against Villarreal to end his campaign.

The Spaniard has finally been getting minutes to his name in recent weeks, with four appearances from the bench and those two starts in the final six games of the campaign.

Reguilon however only made 11 appearances in total for Atletico and now he will find out what his future holds under Postecoglou.

Djed Spence and Joe Rodon (Rennes)

Djed Spence had already returned to Tottenham after picking up a knee injury but Joe Rodon got his second start in three games as Rennes won 2-1 at Brest to finish fourth in the Ligue 1 table.

Rennes technical director Florian Maurice reiterated this week that the French club would not be looking to extend the loans of either of the Tottenham duo.

Rodon played 22 times for Rennes during his season-long loan, scoring once, while Spence managed 10 appearances after his arrival in the winter window before the French club's injured right-backs returned and he found himself out of the team and then matchday squads.

 

[USspur]

Calciomercato Genoa, Stellini descrive Djed Spence. Lo ha allenato al Tottenham

Calciomercato Genoa: l'ex difensore rossoblu Cristian Stellini ha presentato Djed Spence ai nostri microfoni

www.buoncalcioatutti.it

Genoa transfer market, Stellini describes Djed Spence. He coached him at Tottenham

In view of Djed Spence 's arrival in the rossoblu , who will undergo medical examinations in the next few hours before officially becoming a Genoa player, we reached Cristian Stellini by telephone. The former Grifone defender and Antonio Conte's assistant in the Apulian coach's last experience at Tottenham coached the 2000-born winger at Spurs from summer 2022 to January 2023.

Cristian Stellini, captain of Genoa famous for that penalty that weighed like a boulder in the playoffs against Salernitana and who didn't back down on that occasion, who better than him can tell us about Spence? Explain it to us both tactically and temperamentally…

“ Hello to all Genoans. Spence is a very polite boy, very reserved. I would define him as very calm, with great explosiveness and great speed. The English league has a lot of these types of very physical talents. He is a 24 year old boy who has a lot of room for improvement, especially in the final phase of the action: both in finishing and in making assists. He definitely has to grow up, otherwise he wouldn't be so young. But he is a player with incredible physicality and great technical ability to play tight. Both from a standstill and at speed he can become dangerous. In the past he made a leap up the category a little too high, in the sense that he won a Serie B championship with Nottingham Forrest and found himself at Tottenham, in a very strong team. Genoa is a good opportunity for him and to demonstrate his talent . "

How can Gilardino use it? Even as fifth?

“ He is a player suited to playing both as a full back four and, with his speed, also as a high winger in a 4-4-2. Otherwise he is a perfect fifth in a five-man defense because with his speed he covers the entire field very well. Is he ready to join the Italian championship and with Genoa? It is important that he is welcomed in the right way. All foreigners, especially those arriving from England with a language defect, need some time. Above all the warmth of the people and the stadium, I think he went to the right place. Because the warmth of the Ferraris is second to none. If he had asked me for advice, I would definitely have told him to go to Genoa ."

Last question: what do you think of the Dragusin operation at Tottenham?

“ Dragusin is a very strong player. He has demonstrated that he has value and important characteristics. As it has been for many players, making such an important leap will take some time. We are certainly talking about an important prospect ."

Thanks captain. Do you remember that penalty?

“ Yes, of course I remember it (laughs, ed.). What if I tell you? I never get bored telling it, maybe people get bored listening to it. It was the 95th minute Marco Rossi goes down into the area, the referee blows the penalty. The very good boy Dante Lopez goes to get the ball, but I told him 'Dante, this is not your penalty but mine. The responsibility lies with me and so let me take the lead.' Then everything went well ."

 

[USspur]

 

[USspur]

Ndombele notches first assist for Galatasaray in thumping win

Tanguy Ndombele provided his first assist for Galatasaray as they cruised to a 5-1 win over Trabzonspor on Sunday | Tottenham Hotspur

www.tottenhamhotspur.com

 

[USspur]

Spurs youngster tipped for 'top career' while Djed Spence is Genoa's lucky charm

It's time to check in on Tottenham Hotspur's big group of loan players as they played across England and Europe this week, with Djed Spence proving Genoa's lucky charm

www.football.london

​

Djed Spence (Genoa)​

Djed Spence maintained his status as Genoa's lucky charm as they won 2-0 at home against Udinese in Serie A on Saturday.


The 23-year-old came off the bench for the final 12 minutes of the match and having started three games when he first arrived in Italy, Spence now has three wins and a draw to his name in the four matches he's appeared in. In contrast, Genoa have lost or drawn the two games in which he was an unused sub.

Spence spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview this month and he was asked about his time at Tottenham and why it has not worked out for him.


"This is football, I couldn't explain the reasons. What's certain is that when you don't play it's difficult to demonstrate your value," he said. "There's no point in asking too many questions. But I believe that even in difficulty there's always something to learn. Whichever coach you are, it makes you richer inside."

He is enjoying life in Genoa, saying: "I knew they had already been looking for me last summer. Now, the right conditions were there to close the operation. I'm satisfied. It's an important opportunity. I hope that this can be the beginning of a long journey in a club that is growing.


"I found a nice team and a pleasant city. I settled in quickly. They supported me in everything. Everyone in the locker room has helped. There's a nice atmosphere here. Soon I will start studying Italian. For now, I prefer to concentrate on football."

Alejo Veliz (Sevilla)​

Alejo Veliz is back from the knee injury he suffered against Bournemouth in December and having made his Sevilla debut at Valencia last week, there was a big experience this weekend for the 20-year-old striker as he came up against one of the game's most famous sides in Real Madrid.

Veliz got on to the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu for the final 15 minutes of the game which Real only won 1-0 six minutes later thanks to another substitute and former Tottenham player, Luka Modric.

The young Argentine only got five touches of the ball in the game but the experience will have been an important one for Veliz as he awaits his first start for his new La Liga side.

Japhet Tanganga (Millwall)​

Japhet Tanganga celebrated a special landmark with his first senior goal in a man of the match performance as Millwall battled to an impressive 2-1 win against third-placed Southampton in the Championship on Saturday.

The 24-year-old got in front of Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu to loop a header home George Saville's free-kick just five minutes in during Neil Harris' first game back in charge of Millwall. The Spurs centre-back took a whack to the back of his head for his troubles.

Tanganga also cleared a first half effort off the line from Southampton's Che Adams and helped Millwall to their first win in the Championship since New Year's Day which helped them climb to 20th, one point clear of the relegation zone.

Harris said of Tanganga: "If he wants to be a centre-half then he is going to need to do that at both ends of the pitch. We defended our box superbly today. Japhet was outstanding. Him and Jake [Cooper]. I can't praise too many individuals because you go through the whole team – you're talking about playing against one of the best possession-based teams in the league.

"We had to find a way to defend. Everyone put their bodies on the line and blocked shots. Having said that, I don't remember too many clear-cut opportunities against us because we defended our box so well."

Joe Rodon (Leeds United)​

Joe Rodon and Leeds United took a big step towards their hopes of automatic promotion with a 3-1 victory against Championship leaders Leicester on Friday night.

The 26-year-old Welshman has been a shining light for Leeds this season, although local media Leeds Live reported that he had a tougher day of it in their player ratings from the match as he made two interceptions and four clearances but no tackles nor blocked shots.

They handed him a six in their ratings with the review: "By far his most difficult performance of the season. Leicester, for obvious reasons, were always going to ask more questions than anyone else and Rodon was on the rack for much of the evening. Not all his own doing as he had to cover a lot, but calmness on and off the ball wasn't there."

Rodon has still been one of Leeds' best players this season and the Yorkshire club will be hoping that the lack of an option to buy the defender permanently does not come back to haunt them in the summer as his value continues to climb.

​

Troy Parrott (Excelsior Rotterdam)​

Troy Parrott continues to play every minute possible in the Netherlands as 15th-placed Excelsior Rotterdam lost in disappointing fashion 2-1 at home to 17th-placed Vitesse.

The Republic of Ireland international, who turned 22 this month, had one shot on target, played one key pass and won three aerial duels, while making one tackle, two clearances and blocking one opposition shot at the other end of the pitch, but he was unable to add to his 10 goal involvements in what is now 20 Eredivisie matches, with seven goals and three assists to his name.

As football.london reported last month, clubs in Serie A, the Eredivisie and the Championship are monitoring Parrott's situation as he impresses on the whole for an Excelsior team found in the lower half of the table. He has a contract with Spurs until 2025 and there is understood to be an option within it for the club to extend that by another year.

Sergio Reguilon (Brentford)​

Sergio Reguilon has become a regular starter at Brentford, after playing the first half of the season at Manchester United on loan from Spurs.

The 27-year-old Spaniard is yet to play this week for Thomas Frank's team as they are due to travel on Monday night to take on West Ham in the Premier League.

Tanguy Ndombele (Galatasaray)​

Tanguy Ndombele remains out with a muscle injury so is expected to miss Galatasaray's game against Antalyaspor on Monday evening.

In recent days, reports in Turkey have speculated about the future of Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk due to his inability to get better performances out of some of his star names including Ndombele and Wilfried Zaha.

Ndombele has made 23 appearances for the Turkish side, but getting only 644 minutes across those games and registering one assist.

Eric Dier (Bayern Munich)​

Eric Dier played the full 90-plus minutes as Harry Kane had to save the day for Bayern Munich with a late winner at home against RB Leipzig.

Kane netted a goal 10 minutes into the second half in front of the watching Gareth Southgate, only for Leipzig to score a deflected effort 15 minutes after. It was left to Kane to volley home the winning goal in added time, both his goals coming with his left foot, to save the day.

Dier has now played in six matches in the Bundesliga for Bayern, starting four of them, doubling the game time he had for Tottenham this season.

Alfie Devine and Ashley Phillips (Plymouth Argyle)​

Alfie Devine and Ashley Phillips both had to settle for rare bench roles for Plymouth's 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Devine came on for 17 minutes and Phillips for five of them with two first half goals having already secured the result for Argyle. Both had started the 3-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion in midweek.

Plymouth boss Ian Foster explained the decision to leave the two young Spurs stars out of the starting line-up this time around, saying after the game to Plymouth Live: "We have to manage the players in these instances. Ashley Phillips is an 18-year-old kid who has come in and played every game for me from the start. Alfie Devine has come in and been excellent for us. These players just need a break at times."

Matthew Craig (Doncaster Rovers)​

After Matthew Craig grabbed both his first professional goal and assist for Doncaster Rovers last week, he played the full 90 minutes in Saturday's 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon in League Two and earned some big words of praise.

The 20-year-old made an excellent interception in the build-up to Rovers' winning goal and the Scotland Under-21s international was among those singled out by manager Grant McCann.

"He's getting better all the time and is getting used to the demands of this level. Maybe the first couple of games took him by surprise at how physical it was," he is quoted as saying in the Doncaster Free Press. "But we know he's physical and he's tried to adapt his game a little bit to be in that sort of position he's in. There will be contact and he will have to find his way out of tight little spaces.

"He's a great kid. Sometimes you take young boys on loan from the Premier League and they don't really seem to want to (learn). I've seen it over the years when some players come in and think they're better and there's no coaching them. Matty is completely different. He wants to come in and learn and he'll have a top career, there's no doubt about it."

Josh Keeley (Barnet)​

Josh Keeley kept a clean sheet in his ninth straight start for Barnet as they won 2-0 against York City on Saturday.

Barnet have now moved ahead of Bromley into second place in the National League, with the same amount of points but a game in hand. Runaway leaders Chesterfield are another 20 points clear at the summit of the table.

The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland Under-21s international has been earning praise for his displays for the non-league side since joining last month.

 

[USspur]

Alfie Devine and Ashley Phillips: Spurs duo already showing promise at Plymouth

Spurs youngsters Alfie Devine and Ashley Phillips have already shown glimpses of their potential since moving to Plymouth in January

theathletic.com

 

[USspur]

Barnsley vs Wycombe (League One): matthew craig starts. Barnsley draw 2-2.

Leyton Orient vs Exeter City (League One): jamie donley is on the bench, josh keeley is not in the squad. donley comes on in the 63rd minute. Leyton Orient lose 1-0.

Norwich City vs Leeds United (Championship): manor solomon is not in the squad. Leeds United draw 1-1.

Luton Town vs Oxford United (Championship): dane scarlett is on the bench. scarlett comes on in the 84th minute. Oxford United draw 2-2.

Carlisle vs Notts County (League Two): george abbott starts. Notts County win 2-0.

 

[USspur]

 

[J.spurs]

Watched Jamie Donley play brilliantly for Leyton Orient in their win over Derby today. He really looks like he’s coming into his own. Reminds me a little of Ross Barkley when he was good. Hit 3-4 brilliant passes that better players would probably have finished.

 

[USspur]

Loan Watch Day 127 (February 8th 2025)​

Match Thread

reposted to remove a twitter link
Leeds United vs Millwall (FA Cup Fourth Round): manor solomon is on the bench. solomon comes on in the 70th minute. Leeds United lose 2-0 and are eliminated in the Fourth Round.
Leyton Orient vs Manchester City (FA Cup Fourth Round): josh keeley and jamie donley start. donley comes off in the 85th minute. Leyton Orient lose 2-1 and are eliminated in the Fourth Round.
West Brom vs Sheffield Wednesday (Championship): william lankshear is on the bench. lankshear comes on in the 67th minute. West Brom win 2-1.
Celta Vigo vs Real Betis (La Liga): johnny cardoso starts. Real Betis lose 3-2.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City (FA Cup Fourth Round): ashley phillips is on the bench. Stoke City draw 3-3 after extra time and lose 4-2 on penalties. Stoke City are eliminated in the Fourth Round.
Notts County vs Morecambe (League Two): george abbott starts. Notts County win 2-0.
Wealdstone vs Gateshead (National League): luca gunter starts. Wealdstone lose 4-0.
Aveley vs Enfield (National League South): carey bloedorn is not in the squad. Aveley lose 1-0.
Bishop's Stortford vs AFC Telford United (Southern League Premier Division Central): elliot krasniqi starts. Bishop's Stortford draw 2-2.
Barton Rovers vs Flackwell Heath (Southern League Division One Central): dylan thompson starts. Barton Rovers win 2-1.
Athletic Bilbao vs Girona (La Liga): bryan gil starts. gil comes off in the 67th minute. Girona lose 3-0.

 

[USspur]

Loan Watch Day 136 (February 18th 2025)​

Mansfield Town vs Lincoln City (League One): matthew craig is not in the squad. Mansfield Town lose 3-0
Notts County vs Colchester (League Two): george abbott starts. Notts County draw 1-1.
Bishop's Stortford vs Spalding United (Southern League Premier Division Central): elliot krasniqi starts. Bishop's Stortford win 2-0.
Wrexham vs Leyton Orient (League One): josh keeley and jamie donley start. donley scores in the 50th minute. Leyton Orient win 2-1.
Leverstock Green vs Barton Rovers (Southern League Division One Central): dylan thompson starts. Barton Rovers win 1-0.

 

[USspur]

Yang sub decision explained, Dorrington woe, Vuskovic goal in Spurs loan latest

Here we take a look at how Tottenham's loan players got on for their respective clubs over the weekend

www.football.london

Yang Min-hyeok (QPR)​

Despite a very impressive showing in his first QPR start in the 4-0 win over Derby County just over a week ago, Yang Min-hyeok had to settle for a place on the bench in their 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth. The South Korean starlet was introduced in the final 22 minutes of the contest and made an impact in the game, notably teaming up with Alfie Lloyd for a chance immediately after his introduction.

"Yes, fantastic bench impact from both of them," QPR boss Marti Cifuentes told the club's official website after the game. "I think it's a bit of a pity that Alfie didn't score this goal because I think he had a really high impact in the game with his energy, his runs behind, his capacity to shake things a bit. And I think that Yang had a very good start to the game.

"We were thinking during the week whether we should change the starting XI or not [from last week's win over Derby]. We thought that Smythy (Paul Smyth) is more experienced in these kinds of scenarios and we wanted to protect Yang, give him this second half where usually there is more space. I think his impact was very good in those 35 minutes that he played."

Yang and QPR have quite the test on their hands this weekend when they host high-flying Sheffield United.

Alfie Devine and Luka Vuskovic (Westerlo)​

Alfie Devine remains out with a hamstring injury but Luka Vuskovic played and score in Westerlo's 3-1 defeat at home to Charleroi. The Croat opened the scoring for the Belgian side with another header after converting Dogucan Haspolat's corner.

Vuskovic now remarkably has seven goals for the season to his name from his 25 appearances for Westerlo. Now 18 years of age after celebrating his birthday on Monday, it won't be too long until the youngster is at Hotspur Way with Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham first team.

In an interview over the weekend (via Voetbalkrant),Vuskovic opened up on his Tottenham transfer, what he must work on and the possibility of returning to Westerlo on loan.

"I had barely played ten games for Hajduk. In the meantime, I have already gained some experience," he said. "Without being arrogant, I can say that I have shown sufficient qualities. Maybe I still have to work on my speed a bit more, although Mats Hummels shows that you can make a difference even without that speed.

"If I have made my debut at Tottenham, it will be fine. Is there a chance that I will stay at Westerlo? That has not been discussed yet."

Will Lankshear (West Bromwich Albion)​

Will Lankshear had to settle for 13 minutes off the bench on Saturday afternoon as West Brom beat Oxford United 2-0. The 19-year-old was on the pitch when John Swift doubled their advantage deep into stoppage time with goalkeeper Jamie Cumming out of his goal as the visitors chased a late equaliser.

The Baggies have a huge game on the calendar this weekend when they take on promotion-chasing Leeds United at Elland Road.

Bryan Gil (Girona)​

Bryan Gil was another Tottenham loanee to enter the fray late on as Girona lost 2-0 against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The winger was introduced at a time when Real held a one-goal advantage following a stunning strike from former Spurs man Luka Modric.

A home clash against Celta Vigo is next up for Gil and Girona on Saturday.

Manor Solomon (Leeds United)​

Fresh from securing a huge result in their Premier League promotion quest seven days ago following a late 2-1 win over Sunderland, Solomon and Leeds face another pivotal game as they face Sheffield United on Monday evening. As Leeds currently have a two-point advantage over the Blades at the summit of the Championship, the result of Monday's game could potentially be crucial in the race for promotion come the final day.

Solomon will be a key figure for Leeds at Bramall Lane after so far contributing seven goals and eight assists in his time with Leeds. The exciting winger will come face-to-face with fellow Tottenham loanee Lankshear on Saturday when West Brom visit Elland Road.

Alejo Veliz (Espanyol)​

In a season where he really needed to get on the goal trail, it was once again another frustrating weekend for Alejo Veliz. The Tottenham striker was an unused substitute as Espanyol won 1-0 away at Alaves.

Veliz has been a substitute in Espanyol's last five league games, with last weekend's match at Mendizorroza the only occasion where he didn't get on. The frontman will be hoping for better luck on Monday night when his team travel to Villarreal.

Ashley Phillips (Stoke City)​

Stoke's inconsistent run continued on Saturday as they fell to a 4-2 defeat at Norwich City, a result that leaves them 19th in the Championship table and five points above the drop zone. Ashley Phillips once again played the full 90 minutes and came out of the game with a score of 5.5 in Stoke-on-Trent Live's player ratings.

Stoke reporter Peter Smith wrote: "Had chances to take command of situations for Norwich’s first and second goals. Rare foray forward sparked Stoke's penalty move."

The Potters have two games on the agenda this week as the face Middlesbrough at home on Tuesday evening and then Watford make the trip to Staffordshire on Saturday.

Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient)​

Leyton Orient's winning run in League One came to an end on Saturday as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away at play-off rivals Bolton Wanderers. Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley both played the full game but it was a late penalty from Aaron Morley that won the contest for the hosts.

Keeley did guess the right way for the midfielder's penalty but he was unable to keep it out. The defeat at Bolton came four days after Orient had secured an impressive 2-1 win at Wrexham, with Donley scoring the winner with a superb volley.

There will be a Tottenham reunion on Tuesday night when Orient travel to league leaders Birmingham City, who are managed by Postecoglou's former senior assistant coach Chris Davies. The tough run of games continue for Richie Wellens' side on Saturday when Charlton Athletic make the trip across the capital to the Gaughan Group Stadium.

Alfie Dorrington (Aberdeen)​

Alfie Dorrington was an unused substitute for the second Aberdeen game in a row as they won 1-0 at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday. Since making the move north of the border in January, Dorrington has made four appearances for the Dons, with only one of those coming from the start as Aberdeen lost 2-0 at Hibs.

As Jimmy Thelin's side have won their last two league games, Dorrington may have to contend with a place on the bench for the time being as the Swede may be very reluctant to change things up. Aberdeen travel to Celtic on Tuesday evening before hosting Dundee United on Sunday.

Matthew Craig (Mansfield Town)​

Matthew Craig was back on the bench for Mansfield Town on Sunday after missing their past seven league games with a back issue. The 21-year-old was an unused substitute in their 2-1 defeat at home to Wrexham but his comeback could potentially come on Saturday when they travel to Burton Albion.

George Abbott (Notts County)​

Notts County strengthened their promotion credentials on Saturday with a 2-1 home win over Tranmere Rovers. George Abbott, as ever, continued in his midfield berth but he did not see out the 90 minutes as he was replaced four minutes from time.

The Magpies are on the road this weekend as they take on Fleetwood Town at Highbury on Saturday.

Luca Gunter (Wealdstone)​

It was a good weekend for Luca Gunter as he played his part in Wealdstone's 4-2 home win over Ebbsfleet. The Ruislip-based club are now 18th in the National League table after winning their past three games.


Gunter is still waiting for that elusive first clean sheet and the hope will be that it arrives on Tuesday against Boston United.