Sunderland currently have eleven players out on loan. Some with the view to a permanent move, and some with a view to gaining valuable experience to boost their chances of later 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 Gómez – Blackburn Rovers
Emanuele Giaccherini – Bologna
Santiago Vergini – Getafe
Charis Mavrias – Fortuna Düsseldorf
Jordi Gómez was given his first Ewood Park start but could not prevent Blackburn going down 0-2 to promotion-chasing Hull City. Gomez went close to equalising soon after Hull took the lead but he saw his header deflected wide. Danny Graham did not feature due to a hamstring injury. Both players are out of contract in the summer and will be hoping to help ease any relegation fears that Blackburn have to earn themselves a permanent contract for next season.
Will Buckley played 84 minutes before being substituted as Birmingham drew 0-0 away at Rotherham United. Buckley did not have the best of games and was barely involved for large periods. The winger has been in good form since his switch to Birmingham and this may be the only reason he lasted on the pitch for as long as he did. Rotherham, under new boss Neil Warnock, had two players sent off which will not help in their bid to beat the drop from the Championship.
Liam Bridcutt and his side, Leeds United, held promotion-chasing Middlesbrough to a 0-0 draw at Elland Road on Monday night. Both sides had chances to win, but ultimately could not get the job done in front of goal, which would have given either club those valuable three points. Before the game, there were various protests with regards to the running of the club. However, defensive midfielder Bridcutt, will be hoping that any off-the-field problems that United are currently navigating will not put a stop to a permanent deal going ahead in the summer.
Last week in an interview, Lynden Gooch said, “The fans here have not seen the best of me yet.” Unfortunately for Doncaster Rovers and their supporters, they are still waiting. He played just 63 minutes of Saturday’s 0-1 home defeat by Sheffield United. Gooch has yet to score for Rovers but has confidence in his ability: “Once I get to know the other players, which I have now, and get to know the system better, I think you’ll see a lot more from me in terms of scoring goals and getting shots off. “I like to get the ball to feet and turn and get at defenders and cause them problems. That’s what I hope to do a lot more of.”
Dylan McEvoy missed out through illness as National League North high-flyers Boston United had their promotion hopes dented as they were beaten 0-3 at home by Stalybridge Celtic. The result means Boston drop down to fifth position in the table. Speaking recently to the Sunderland club website, McEvoy commented, “The loan is really beneficial, I was sent there to get game time and make myself stronger but, like I say, I feel like I am getting better and playing well. There are times when players do get past me because I do dive in but I am learning. I am up against men who are much stronger than me. I have to use my brain sometimes and I have got to realise you don’t always have to go to ground when you can stand up and track your man.”
After his first goal and assist for Marseille in the Coupe de France last Thursday, Steven Fletcher had to settle for a place on the bench as his new side returned to league action with a 1-1 draw away at Nice in a Mediterranean derby. Fletcher eventually came on as an 83rd-minute substitute and, although he was on the pitch for just a short time, he did set up a chance for Florian Thauvin, but he put his shot wide. This is Fletcher’s third appearance for Marseille and, with his contract being up at Sunderland in the summer, he will be doing what he can to make the move to France a permanent one.
Emanuele Giaccherini helped his side, Bologna, win 0-1 away at Udinese. The attacker is playing for his future at Bologna and for a place in the Italian Euro 2016 squad. He is currently in good form having scored four goals in his last seven appearances and, if he can keep up this level of action, he has every chance of securing a return back to his home country, and possibly a place at this summer’s European Championships in France.
Elsewhere, Santiago Vergini played the full 90 minutes as Getafe were defeated by a second-minute Fernando Torres strike. This was Getafe’s third straight defeat. Charis Mavrias played 83 minutes as Fortuna Düsseldorf surprised many by beating second-in-the-table SC Freiburg 1-2. The result eases their relegation worries a little, but Mavrias and teammates will be hoping that this is not a one-off performance. Sebastian Coates helped Sporting Lisbon keep a clean sheet as they convincingly beat Nacional 0-4 away from home. The win puts Sporting three points clear at the top of the table.
