Sunderland currently have eleven players out on loan. Some with the view to a permanent move and some with a view to gaining valuable first team experience with the view to competing for a place in the Sunderland first team squad in the future.
The players currently on loan are:
Steven Fletcher – Marseille
Sebastian Coates – Sporting Lisbon
Lynden Gooch – Doncaster Rovers
Will Buckley – Birmingham City
Liam Bridcutt — Leeds United
Dylan McEvoy — Boston United
Danny Graham and Jordi Gomez – Blackburn Rovers
Emanuele Giaccherini – Bologna
Santiago Vergini – Getafe
Charis Mavrias – Fortuna Düsseldorf
Steven Fletcher came on as an 80th minute substitute for his Marseille debut on Sunday night. With Marseille trailing at home to Paris Saint-Germain, he was brought on in an attempt to rescue a point against the league leaders, much to bemusement of PSG’s Edinson Cavani.
Fletcher failed to make an impact and the match ended with PSG securing a 2-1 away win which keeps them 24 points ahead of second-placed Monaco. Marseille remain in mid table. After the game the Scotsman told French television: “The atmosphere was fantastic. It is like nothing that I’ve seen in the past. I must admit that I have not played a lot of games this season, but I trained every day, I worked hard to respond to this kind of challenge, and I was ready.”
Blackburn Rovers travelled to Middlesbrough with two loanees from Sunderland in their side. Jordi Gomez, making his debut, put Blackburn in front at the Riverside. However, Boro fought back and game ended 1-1. The point leaves Rovers just four points off the relegation places. Gomez, even though he scored, was substituted after 83 minutes. Danny Graham played the full 90 minutes against his former side but was unable to make an impact.
Will Buckley played 81 minutes for Birmingham City but could not prevent them from being defeated 1-2 at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Birmingham looked comfortable for long periods until Wednesday’s new permanent signing Gary Hooper took over and scored two goals in two second half minutes. It was Birmingham’s first defeat in seven games and leaves them three points off a play-off place.
Liam Bridcutt played the full game as Leeds United were defeated at home by in-form Nottingham Forest 1-0. Leeds were second best for much of the match and could have lost by a bigger margin. Several fans did give Bridcutt the Leeds United Man of the Match award in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
In-form Emanuele Giaccherini scored the equaliser in Bologna’s home draw with Fiorentina. A right-footed shot from inside the box put the home side back on level terms just four minutes after they had gone behind. The point keeps Bologna in mid table and with them enduring a inconsistent run of results, two wins, two draws and two defeats in their last six games, then mid-table is where they are likely to stay.
Sebastian Coates, who recently joined Sporting Lisbon on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move, made his debut and played the full 90 minutes in their 0-0 home draw against Rio Ave on Monday night. After the match Sporting boss Jorge Jesus said, “Coates showed that he is an excellent player in his very first match. He looked really secure, showed experience and was strong. With a bit of confidence he will score as well.” Coates signed for the Black Cats permanently last summer but was allowed to leave the Stadium of Light to give Sam Allardyce extra funds to strengthen the squad.
Charis Mavrias made his debut for Fortuna Düsseldorf in their 0-1 home defeat to Heidenheim in the German second division. Mavrias still has 18 months left on his contract at the Stadium of Light but he hopes to play regular first team football during this loan spell, which lasts until the end of the season. If all goes well he could be another player who won’t be seen in the red and white shirt of Sunderland again.
Santiago Vergini played full 90 minutes in Getafe’s 3-0 away defeat at Malaga. He was also booked late in the game in an all-round bad day for player and club.
Two other players currently out on loan did not play last weekend. Dylan McEvoy who is currently on loan at National League North high flyers Boston United, did not have a game this weekend. McEvoy and Boston resume their push for promotion at home to Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday 13th February. Doncaster Rovers, where Lynden Gooch is currently on loan, had their game at Scunthorpe postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Rovers will be hoping to ease any relegation worries and increase their faint hopes of a play-off place when they face Sheffield United at home on Saturday.
