It was a mixed bag for Everton’s loanees after a busy weekend in the lower leagues across the UK.
The biggest success came as Salford City where Francis Okoronkwo was a handed a start amid a mini injury crisis for the club. Okoronkwo has played 18 times for Salford, scoring three goals but he took his chance against Bradford with a stunning finish in the first half.
Taking the ball down from a ball over the top, Okoronkwo then fired it past the goalkeeper into the top corner. It was a fine finish only spoiled by a Bradford comeback to win the game 2-1.
The 20-year-old, who Everton signed for six-figures from Sunderland, said: ““As long as I’m in those positions, nine times out of 10 I am going to back myself to score. Hopefully that will continue. My game is more in behind and over the top and as long as I get that ball and am front-facing on goal I’m going to at least work the keeper.”
He was not the only Everton player who impressed on loan this weekend. Harrison Armstrong may have been regretting his move to Derby County after manager Paul Warne was sacked shortly after his arrival. An unused substitute last time out, he was handed a start as Derby faced out of form Middlesbrough.
Armstrong played 75 minutes in the game and despite a late winner for Middlesbrough, he was one of the better players on the pitch as Derby slumped to the bottom of the Championship table.
The Derby Telegraph said: “We have been waiting to see Harrison Armstrong unleashed on this Derby team following his move from Everton and the teenager certainly showed promise.
“In what was undeniably one of the day’s positives, the midfielder showed he could play both sides of the game. He rattled into a couple of early challenges, was happy to take the ball in tight spaces, and, when in possession, his first thought was to largely play forward.”
It is good news for Armstrong who will learn a lot from the relegation battle. Derby have just two points from thier last twelve games and hopefully their form can improve quickly.
Eli Campbell played the full game as Ross County beat Kilmarnock 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership. The defender played on the left side of a back three and performed an important block to deny Kilmarnock in the 72nd minute of the game.
The BBC reported: “Thankfully for Don Cowie, his side responded with a solid defensive effort that frustrated Kilmarnock for the full 90 minutes.
“Kacper Lopata, Jonathan Tomkinson and Eli Campbell produced heroics time and again and when they could not header or blooter the ball away, Amissah behind them repelled the visitors.”
Campbell has enjoyed a positive season in Scotland and was recently called up to the England Elite Squad (essentially the u20s).
At Chesterfield is was less good news for Jenson Metcalfe, who has had his time in League Two hampered by injury. He finally got a chance to start for the club but while being described as ‘neat and tidy’ by some fans he struggled as the midfield was overran by a good Crewe performance. Chesterfield lost 3-1 and Metcalfe is yet to convince fans.
In League One Steve Bruce’s Blackpool lost 2-1 to Stockport County and Everton loanee Harry Tyrer played the entire game in goal. In League Two Billy Crellin was on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline as well as Accrington Stanley were beaten by Harrogate Town.
In the Championship Mason Holgate was an unused substitute as West Brom held Leeds United to a 1-1 draw.
At the time of writing Neal Maupay was an unused substitute for Marseille in their game against Nantes. Maupay is a bit part player at the club, who have to buy him in the summer despite clearly not impressing in his time there.