Serie A – Italy
Kevin Mirallas (Fiorentina)
The Belgian replaced Giovanni Simeone after 56 minutes of La Viola’s 0-0 draw with Bologna and was kept quiet on the right-hand side, managing just the one shot on target. Reports from Italy broke this week that Fiorentina would not be making his loan deal permanent.
La Liga – Spain
Sandro Ramirez (Real Sociedad)
Sandro made what is becoming his trademark last half-hour appearance for Sociedad in a 1-1 draw with Eibar, making one key pass but not managing a shot from the right side of attacking midfield.
Super Lig – Turkey
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray)
Onyekuru had a great game against rivals Fenerbahce, putting his side ahead in the second-half despite the match finishing 1-1. He also made a key pass as well as three more shots, but did miss a big chance to bag another goal. There were reports from abroad that he was being watched by scouts from several top clubs, so Everton may face a fight to keep hold of him this summer.
Premier Liga – Russia
Nikola Vlasic (CSKA Moscow)
Vlasic went a game without scoring or assisting in the 3-2 home defeat to Orenburg. It wasn’t for the want of trying, though, as he made three key passes which his teammates couldn’t put away.
Eredivisie – Netherlands
Cuco Martina (Feyenoord)
Martina came off injured after just under an hour of his side’s 2-1 win over Heracles Almelo, but it doesn’t seem to be too serious. Don’t worry, even though you’re most probably not.
First Division A – Belgium
Yannick Bolasie (Anderlecht)
Bolasie started out on the right for Anderlecht away at Standard Liege, but the game was abandoned after half an hour due to flares being thrown by fans.
Super League – Switzerland
Shani Tarashaj (Grasshoppers)
Tarashaj was back on the bench for Grasshoppers last week, and came on for the closing minutes of a 0-0 draw with FC Basel.
Scottish Championship
Shayne Lavery (Falkirk)
Lavery stayed on the bench to watch his side’s 1-0 away win over rivals Dunfermline Athletic.
Premier League
Oumar Niasse (Cardiff City)
Niasse was rested for the 2-0 defeat at Burnley, before being reinstalled against Brighton & Hove Albion, a relegation six-pointer which Cardiff won 2-0 at the Amex. See, that’s what happens when you play Oumar.
The striker (if you can call him that) played the last twelve minutes of the first match, as well as the opening 85 of the second, in which he had one shot blocked before being replaced by Kenneth Zohore who had taken his place against Burnley.
Niasse admitted this week that he did not know what his future holds, but there have been reports of a potential move to Besiktas.
Championship
Antonee Robinson and Beni Baningime (Wigan Athletic)
While Beni continues to be overlooked in an unfruitful loan move, Robinson has played the full games of all three of his fixtures since the last update – a 2-1 defeat at Hull City, a 1-1 draw with Norwich City, and most recently a big 2-1 win at Leeds United.
Robinson made a key pass against Hull as well as five clearances, seeing plenty of action both defensively and further up the pitch. He was given more license to go forward against Wigan, making five key passes, but was forced to play a more defensive game at Leeds, making six clearances and four interceptions. He would be an able back-up to Lucas Digne next season should the club lose the talents of Leighton Baines.
Ashley Williams (Stoke City)
Williams has found a way back into the Stoke starting line-up in recent matches due to an injury to Ryan Shawcross, playing all of Stoke’s 3-1 loss at Swansea City, 2-2 draw with Rotherham United, and 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.
The Swansea game was a tough one, with two of his other defenders being sent off within the space of six minutes in the second-half increasing Williams’ workload significantly. He stayed strong though, making four clearances, blocking two shots, and making three interceptions.
He was deployed at right-back against Rotherham due to the suspensions from the previous game, and managed an assist from a cross as well as another three clearances.
The Welshman switched to the left of a back three against Boro, seeing plenty of the ball but not always providing complete assurance.
Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough)
Besic has started all three of Boro’s wins since the last update, a 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers and a couple of 1-0’s against Hull and Stoke respectively. He was lively in all of them, making four key passes in the first including an assist for the second goal, two in the second and one in the third. The Bosnian has also showed off his dribbling skills, going past five players across the three games despite being accused of ‘ball-hogging’ in some quarters.
Joe Williams and Callum Connolly (Bolton Wanderers)
It’s been a torrid season for Bolton Wanderers, making it extremely difficult for two very talented youngsters to thrive. Bolton were relegated after their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, after losing 4-0 to Derby County and 2-0 to Middlesbrough.
There hasn’t been much good to report this week for the pair unfortunately, but Williams started all three games in the middle of the park whilst Connolly came off the bench in the first, played in an unfamiliar right-back role in the second before being switched into central midfield during the game, and played as a No. 10 in the third. A strange season for all involved, but hopefully the two players will have more security next year as it’s clearly not the ideal situation for a young player learning his trade.
Kieran Dowell (Sheffield United)
Dowell came on for the last half-hour of a 1-1 draw at Birmingham City at left-wing back again before being left on the bench for the Millwall game of the same result. He was finally played in midfield for the 2-0 win over his former loan club Nottingham Forest, but only for the last nine minutes.
Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion)
Holgate played all three of his side’s 3-2 defeat at Bristol City, 4-1 win over Preston North End and 3-2 win over Hull City. He’s done plenty of running down the right, with more license to go forward in the last couple of games as a right wing-back as opposed to his former role as a flat right-back.
He made three key passes against Preston but his general passing accuracy must improve if he is to continue in that position, as he had an average passing accuracy of just 60% across the three games.
League One
Luke Garbutt (Oxford United)
Garbutt was on the left wing again for the first 68 minutes of a 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon before being replaced, but played the full 90 minutes of a fiery 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic back at left-back. He assisted the opener before scoring his side’s second goal which turned out to be the winner, before a player from each side was sent off. However, it’s great to see Garbutt’s loan spell at Oxford getting back on track
Anthony Evans (Blackpool)
Evans was left on the bench for a 1-0 defeat to Peterborough United, but showed some positive touches after starting the 0-0 draw at Scunthorpe United. He was brought off with ten minutes to go.
Evo-Stik Premier League
Joe Hilton (Marine)
Hilton endured a difficult afternoon in a 3-1 defeat to a strong Matlock Town side before bouncing back to be given the man-of-the-match award in a 1-1 draw with Buxton after pulling off several crucial saves.
@TomClarke40
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