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Loan Round-Up: October 28th

How are Reading's young players (and Paolo Hurtado!) getting on out on loan? TalkMurtyToMe has all you need to know...

By TalkMurtyToMe
Harry Trump/Getty Images

Lewis Ward - Margate (National League South) Appearances: 16 Clean Sheets: 3

Ward continued his stay as the starter for Margate throughout this month, starting in cup matches against Hastings, eventually winning in extra time in the replay, as well as playing 90 minutes in a win against Hemel Hempstead and draw with Harrow Borough. He was absent from Margate's most recent fixture though, hinting at a possible return to Reading.

George Legg - Hungerford (National League South) Appearances: 16 Clean Sheets: 6

Legg played in three matches this month, twice in cup games against Leiston and Wantage Town, and once in the league, in a 1-0 defeat to Poole. Sandwiched between those games, Legg was dropped to the bench in a 4-2 defeat to Concord Rangers, and after the defeat to Poole, Legg sent out a tweet to his followers, expressing his dismay at the loss.

Paolo Hurtado - Vitoria de Guimaraes (Liga NOS) Appearances: 9 Goals: 1

Reading's Peruvian winger has become a bit-part player since joining Vitoria in the summer. Having scored on his debut, he has failed to impress since, and played only minimal roles in games over the past month. He was withdrawn at half-time during his side's 3-3 draw with Sporting Lisbon, and was hauled off just after the hour mark a couple of weeks later, in a 2-0 win against Estoril.

After the match, Hurtado took to Twitter to convey his delight at the victory;

{Stronger than ever, a big team victory}

Sean Long - Cambridge United (Football League Two) Appearances: 9

Sean Long has faced a tough battle to gain a starting spot in Cambridge's side this season since joining in the summer transfer window, but this month saw his hard-work finally bear fruit, as he started twice, in a 1-1 draw with Blackpool and a 2-1 victory in the EFL Trophy to Middlesbrough's U23s. Since being left out of the match day squad at the beginning of the month, Long has started the two aforementioned games as well as being an unused substitute against Grimsby and coming on in stoppage time to shore up the defence in a 2-1 win against Newport.

And Manager Shaun Derry has been impressed with Longs performances too;

Craig Tanner - Plymouth Argyle (Football League Two) Appearances: 11 Goals: 1

Tanner turned 22 on Thursday, but got to celebrate his birthday early with an outrageous flick to grab an assist for Jake Jervis' goal in a 4-1 victory over Yeovil. Tanner also appeared in wins against Stevenage and Newport as well as a draw against Portsmouth and defeat to Wimbledon.

Most fans have taken to Tanner, particularly since he re-joined the club on loan this summer;

However others have questioned his goal-scoring record for the club.

Aaron Kuhl - Boreham Wood (National League Prem) Appearances: 6

For whatever reason, Aaron Kuhl has really struggled to get significant minutes since dropping down a (fair) few divisions to link up with Boreham Wood this summer. Once thought of as one of Reading's best academy players, it seems he has become the forgotten man at the club. He was withdrawn in the 66th minute in a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham, and was brought on late on in a couple of games this month, in comfortable wins against Hendon (3-0) and Macclesfield (2-0). He has flirted with the match-day squad on occasions too, being an unused substitute against North Ferriby before being dropped completely during a victory over Braintree.

Kuhl's fall from favour has not gone unnoticed though, with most Reading fans bamboozled by his poor form.

Rob Dickie - Cheltenham Town (Football League Two) Appearances: 11 Goals: 2

Dickie has become a mainstay in this Cheltenham side, completing 90 minutes in all five games this month. The most notable of which came in a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley, as the young defender scored in the final stages to snatch a point.

Jonathan Bond - Gillingham (Football League One) Appearances: 9

Bond remained on the side-line at the beginning of this month as a result of the groin injury he sustained in September's EFL Trophy clash against Tottenham. After three successive defeats without him though, Bond walked straight back into the side after recovering from injury, but couldn't prevent his side from conceding a 90th minute winner against Bristol Rovers in his first match back. Bond was booked for time-wasting seconds before the winner went in.

He stayed between the sticks for the next game though, but his blunder allowed Walsall to take home a point from his struggling Gillingham side;

The month ended as it had started for Reading's young goalkeeper though, as he picked up a recurrence of the groin injury - that kept him out of most of this month's games - after half an hour against Charlton.

He won't play this weekend.

Jack Stacey - Exeter (Football League Two) Appearances: 9

Stacey's been a fringe player since joining Exeter on loan, playing 73 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Wycombe, before being dropped against Grimsby. He then played the final 18 minutes in a 4-1 victory against Barnet before picking up 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat against Morecambe.

Prior to Eamonn Dolan's testimonial match last week, Stacey had some nice words to say about his former academy coach.

Tariqe Fosu - Colchester United (Football League Two) Appearance: 9

Like Stacey, Fosu has been in and out of the Colchester starting line-up since joining, and things haven't really picked up for him over the past month. He was withdrawn shortly after the hour mark in a defeat to Carlisle and draw with Newport, but was absent from the match day squad in the 2-1 defeat to Saints' U23 side in the EFLT and the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth. He was back on the bench the following week though, coming off it for the final five minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Notts County.

Many Reading fans may share the sentiment of Will though;

LOAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK;

Rob Dickie is one of few loan players to be getting regular extended game-time at the minute, and his 90th minute equaliser for Cheltenham against Accrington makes him more than deserving for this award.

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