WOLVES LOANWATCH

Our loanees collectively won only 4 out of the 18 fixtures they played in this week. It was a mixed week of cup and league action in England and across Europe. Wolves will be pleased with some loan spells but will need to review others who are still struggling for game time a quarter of the way through the season.

James Storer – Darlaston Town (1874) FC – Northern Premier League
Darlaston Town visited Wellingborough Town in their first of two back-to-back away games for the NPL Midlands team. Storer was in goal on Saturday as his team looked to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Corby last time out. It seemed they would until the very last moment. Joseph Blowers scored an 89th-minute equaliser for the hosts to ensure the points were shared in a 2-2 draw. Storer remains high in fifth place in the Northern Premier League Midlands division but will be keen to return to winning ways with clean sheets after conceding six goals in his past two games.

Lucas Kibrya – Wolverhampton Casuals – Midlands Football League Premier Division
Kibrya had two games this week. First, Midland Football League cup action saw him visit Sutton United at the Coleshill Road Stadium on Tuesday. 160 fans attended to see Kibrya eliminated in the second round despite his best efforts. The goalie made important saves in the second half to keep his team in the game, but it wasn’t to be as they were reduced to ten men before the end, adding insult to injury. Back at home in the league, Wolverhampton Casuals hosted Shifnal Town. Lucas played again, but despite another strong performance, the Cassies lost 2-1. Shifnal are sixth, while the Cassies sit just above the bottom of the table.

George Hardy – Highgate United FC – Midlands Football League Premier Division
Hardy was an unused substitute on Tuesday night as experience proved vital in a 5-1 defeat for Highgate United to OJM Black Country in the MFL Cup. Hardy returned to goal for Saturday’s Midland Football League Premier Division clash with Stone Old Alleynians. Hardy’s side were massive underdogs but held on until the 86th minute when the fourth-placed MFL Premier side finally broke through, beating the Wolves loanee. A heartbreaking end for Highgate as they missed out on what would have been an important point while continuing to scrap towards the bottom of the MFL Premier table.

Chem Campbell – Reading – EFL League One
Campbell scored his third goal of the season during Reading’s 4-1 loss to Stockport on Tuesday. The winger connected with a lovely low-driven cross from Harvey Knibbs to tap home from close range. Campbell was substituted an hour into the match as Reading suffered a humbling defeat that leaves the Royals in 9th place in League One. Reading then faced Fleetwood in FA Cup action over the weekend, winning 2-0 at home. No goals for Chem in that one, but he played 85 minutes before being replaced as his team progressed to the second round.

Nigel Lonwijk – Huddersfield Town FC – EFL League One
FA Cup humiliation for Lonwijk and Huddersfield this week. It was all tricks and no treats as the Dutch defender played the full 90 minutes at the back while his team was eliminated in the first round by National League Tamworth. Nigel was not at fault for the goal, which came from a long throw that goalkeeper Chris Maxwell ended up punching into his own net. Hopefully, this was just a blip for Lonwijk, who had been in good form prior to Friday’s game.

Joe Hodge – Huddersfield Town FC – EFL League One
Joe Hodge remains out injured for the Terriers.

Tawanda Chirewa – Derby County – EFL Championship
Tawanda Chirewa is still out with injury.

Tyler Roberts – AFC Fylde – National League
Tyler Roberts had no match this week.

Hugo Bueno – Feyenoord – Eredivisie
Feyenoord suffered their first league defeat of the season on Wednesday night, losing 2-0 at home to Ajax. Hugo Bueno played 68 minutes of the defeat and received a yellow card. Things improved for Feyenoord over the weekend as they beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 at home, with Hugo returning to form and being rated the third-highest player on the pitch, following goalscorer Luka Ivanusec and South Korean striker Hwang In-Beom. Feyenoord remains 4th in the Eredivisie with 22 points from their first 11 games.

Ki-Jana Hoever – Auxerre – Ligue 1
Auxerre moved up to 10th in Ligue 1 after an impressive 4-0 home victory against Rennes on Sunday. Hoever was involved in the first goal as his cross was partially cleared to the edge of the area, where Gaetan Perrin volleyed home into the bottom left corner to put Auxerre 1-0 up. Hoever was replaced in the 85th minute with Auxerre comfortably in control of the game. Auxerre has now won three home games in a row, an impressive stat in their first season back in the top flight.

Nathan Fraser – Zulte Waregem – Belgian First Division B
Zulte Waregem were in cup action in midweek, a game I expected Nathan Fraser to play some part in, given his lack of minutes this season. Unfortunately, Fraser wasn’t even in the matchday squad as Zulte Waregem beat Belgian Pro League side Dender 2-1 at home. Last week, Zulte Waregem lost their top spot after a 2-2 draw. This week, they dropped to 3rd in the league after being beaten 2-1 away by RWD Molenbeek. Once again, Nathan Fraser was an unused substitute. It’s fair to say Fraser’s time in the second tier of Belgian football isn’t going as either he or Wolves would have liked.

Marvin Marvellous Kaleta – Motherwell – Scottish Premiership
What a week it’s been for Marvin Kaleta. Last week, he made his first start against champions Celtic, and this week he was rewarded with two more starts. In midweek, Motherwell beat Dundee United 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership, with Kaleta playing 86 minutes and producing an impressive performance. On Sunday, Motherwell lost in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup against giants Rangers, and once again, Kaleta was trusted from the start. Although this wasn’t Kaleta’s strongest performance, he played another 75 minutes, making it three starts in the last three games.

Dexter Lembikisa – Yverdon Sports – Swiss Super League
Dexter Lembikisa started Yverdon Sports’ 3-0 defeat at home to Lausanne on Tuesday night but struggled to make any impact in the game and was substituted at half-time. This is the second time in three starts that Lembikisa has been taken off in the first half of a game. As a result, Lembikisa was an unused substitute in Yverdon Sports’ 2-0 defeat away to Lugano on Sunday. Yverdon Sports dropped to 8th in the Swiss Super League.

Chiquinho – RCD Mallorca – La Liga
Chiquinho made his first start for RCD Mallorca on Friday night as they lost 1-0 away to Alaves. Chiquinho had a quiet game and was substituted after 56 minutes. He registered his first shot in La Liga as he cut back inside the penalty area, only to shoot straight into the keeper’s arms.

Fabio Silva – Las Palmas
After picking up their first league win and a back-to-back double last weekend, Las Palmas must have dreamt of making it three La Liga wins in a row against giants Atletico Madrid on Sunday. However, they were brought back down to earth with a 2-0 defeat. Fabio Silva played 87 minutes and had one shot on target after linking up well with Sandro to find himself through on goal, but from a tight angle, he couldn’t score. Las Palmas were also in action in midweek, winning 7-0 against non-league side Ontinena CF in the Copa del Rey, a game in which Fabio Silva was rested.