Loan Rangers

Last updated : 18 October 2005 By Keith Allman

Admittedly in recent times there haven't been many updates about what our loaned out lads have been up to. Mainly it's because they haven't been doing anything at all apart from Richard Duffy, who has been putting in frequent appearances for Wales and has given away five or so penalties this season (whoops). Today however has seen developments regarding all three players currently farmed out elsewhere in England (although of course we do also have Liam Horsted up in Scotland, plying his trade with Dumfermline).

Richard Duffy - Apparently set to be recalled in January so that we can have a proper look at him. Being a right back however I can't really see the use since Brian Priske has got that position sewn up, Andy Griffin is hot on his trail and we've still got Linvoy to come back who can play their if need-be. He also played ninety minutes for Coventry in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich.

James Keene - After scoring his first ever professional goal at the weekend against Colchester - an injury time winner no less - he's just signed a loan extension with Bournemouth. And what better way to celebrate than with two goals against Aldershot in the LDV Vans Trophy this evening?

Vincent Pericard - He hasn't had the best of times at Sheffield United as he's been fighting back to fitness whilst also having to recover from another injury, this time to his hamstring. But tonight in a 4-0 win away at Millwall he grabbed his first goal for the Blades, hopefully with more to follow. Rumours of a permanent move are still refusing to shift and if we bring in another striker in the transfer window I wouldn't be especially surprised to see him moved on.

And that's not all; a player on loan to us, a certain Mr Skopelitis, is apparently set to return home in January. I still reckon he'd be ok as a squad player but he's hardly turned in top drawer performances recently and is only being used sparingly, so no point in keeping him here as far as I see. My one main question would be why were we so coy about having him on loan in the first place? It's turned out to be a good deal since he's been deemed surplus to requirements and it's not £1m wasted or whatever was rumoured in the first place, so why didn't we say that from the start? It's good business sense and a decent transfer policy to be following, so why didn't we just say so from the outset?

I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason - but I haven't got a clue what it is!