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Reading FC Loan Round-Up: April 20th

There are plenty of Royals impressing out on loan.

By TalkMurtyToMe
Michael Steele/Getty Images

Paolo Hurtado - Vitoria de Guimaraes (Liga NOS) Appearances: 35 Goals: 8

Hurtado grabbed two goals and an assist this month as he continued his fine season back in Portugal. He scored on the stroke of half-time in the 2-1 win over Tondela, before assisting the opener and scoring the third in a 3-2 win over Chaves a week later.

Hurtado's agent, Elio Casareto, tweeted a video of his goal against Tondela, and also commented on Hurtado's potential return to the Royals for the 2017/18 season.

Sean Long - Lincoln (National League) Appearances: 16

Sean Long began the month as the first choice full back at the club, playing 90 minutes in wins against Forest Green and Bromley, as well as in a draw against Sutton. After the Bromley victory, he was dropped to the bench and was an unused substitute in the next three fixtures, before regaining his spot in the starting line-up, playing 90 minutes in wins against both Torquay and Gateshead.

Craig Tanner - Plymouth (League One) Appearances: 36 Goals: 6

Tanner began the month out of the Plymouth squad, missing games against Doncaster and Accrington, before playing 40 minutes against Crawley, nine minutes against Portsmouth and six against Notts County.

The game against Notts County, a 6-1 victory, guaranteed promotion for the club, and Tanner celebrated with the fans after the final whistle on the pitch.

Jack Stacey - Exeter (League Two) Appearances: 36

Stacey has been used predominantly off the bench for Exeter this month, playing 90 minutes only once, in a 2-1 win against Mansfield. He got game time off the bench against Yeovil, Newport and Cambridge.

As the season winds down, fans are taking to social media to cast their votes on the player of the season, and Stacey is certainly getting some buzz.

Tariqe Fosu - Colchester United (League Two) Appearances: 32 Goals: 2

Fosu has been used as an impact player this month, but he has also proved he's more than capable of starting games and making an impact too. He played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Doncaster, a 4-0 thrashing of Stevenage, and also came off the bench in a win against Luton and a defeat to Notts County.

After a man-of-the-match performance against Stevenage, head coach John McGreal has hailed the quality of the on-song winger (via the Essex County Standard).

"Taz is a hell of a talent. He’s been giving us 60 minutes or 30 minutes in matches and then tends to fade away.

"He was outstanding a few weeks ago at Grimsby but didn’t tend to back it up.

"But for the full 90 minutes against Stevenage, he was terrific.

"He was a constant handful. We gave him a separate challenge and he’s done it to the letter of the law.

"He could have come away with a goal himself.

"Tariqe is a quality player and it’s just a case of getting the best out of him.

"He played against an experienced player in Charlie Lee and I thought he did it really well.

"He was a constant threat but he also did his defensive work as well, when needed."

Axel Andresson - Bath City (National League South) Appearances: 14 Goals: 5

Andresson has become a real fan's favourite at Bath in such a short period of time since joining the club, and he scored his 5th goal in just 14 games, firing in another penalty in a 5-0 drubbing of Concord Rangers. He also completed 90 minutes against East Thurrock and Poole.

Despite the young defender being just 19, and only a temporary player at the club, he has taken over the captaincy of the team, and he spoke to the Bath Chronicle on the earning the honour.

"(Taking over the captaincy has) been marvellous. "I'm so proud of coming into a team and from day one everyone has supported me; the fans, the players.

"It's been the best experience for me. Especially as I'm young and I have many years to come, and I will always appreciate Bath.

"A great connection. As I said before, everything has been spot on, positive. Everything has been lovely."

Zak Jules - Motherwell (SPL) Appearances: 8

Jules was an unused substitute in games against Rangers and Hamilton at the beginning of this month, but returned to the side in a 1-0 defeat to Partick Thistle, before coming off the bench in the 87th minute in a 4-2 win against Inverness.

Jake Cooper - Millwall (League One) Appearances: 15 Goals: 1

Cooper played 90 minutes in defeats to both Swindon and Sheffield United, but dropped to the bench the following week in a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe. His dropping coincided with a good run of form by the side, and Cooper struggled to get back in the starting line-up as his team-mates beat Shrewsbury and Northampton in his absence. He was substituted on at half-time in the most recent game, a 1-0 defeat to Fleetwood.

Dominic Samuel - Ipswich Town (Championship) Appearances: 3

Since returning from injury, Samuel has done enough to earn himself a place on the Ipswich bench, and although he was an unused substitute against Burton and Newcastle, he has been earning game-time as an impact player for the Tractor Boys, coming off the bench in the second halves of games against Birmingham, Wigan and Fulham.

When quizzed on Samuel's uncertain future, Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy had this to say.

"He’s here on loan, he’s not had any game time, pretty much because he broke his toe.

"And then as he’s come back Didzy and Freddie have been doing all right, the front players who he would have to replace. That’s why he’s never played."

"But he’s impressed everybody.

"He’s certainly a good finisher and [he had] his little cameo appearance when he came on and helped up set up the goal against Birmingham.

"He has impressed, I’ve been really pleased with him, so there’s every chance that he’ll get his opportunity this weekend."

Niall Keown - Partick Thistle (SPL) Appearances: 12

Keown has become a regular at Thistle since joining, playing every minute this month, including notable wins against Ross County and Motherwell, as well as an impressive draw against Celtic.

He won the club player of the month for April, and his impressive performances have impressed fans across the SPL.

Keown spoke to the Times in an in-depth interview last week too, talking about his father and living up to the Keown name.

Stuart Moore - Luton Town (League Two) Appearances: 5 Clean Sheets: 1

Moore began this month continuing as Matt Macey's back up at the club, sitting on the bench against Colchester and Blackpool, but he got his chance the following week, against Barnet, in which he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. He then continued what he will hope will be a run in the side, featuring in draws against Leyton Orient and Mansfield.

Lewis Ward - Hungerford Town (National League South) Appearances: 8 Clean Sheets: 3

With George Legg being recalled by Reading after an injury crisis at the Madejski, Lewis Ward was sent out to Legg's former loan club, Hungerford Town, to replace him until the end of the season. He came straight into the side and started every game this month, keeping clean sheets in draws against Welling and St Albans and a win against Dartford.

Terence Van Cooten - Basingstoke Town (Evo Stik South) Appearances: 5

Van Cooten has been used predominantly off the bench since joining Basingstoke on loan for the remainder of the season, coming on in the 57th and 58th minute against Redditch and Dorchester respectively. He also grabbed an assist in the 3-2 win over Chesham.

Dom Hyam - Aldershot (National League) Appearances: 3

Like Van Cooten, the young defender has been used off the bench for Aldershot since joining, coming on in the 89th and 78th minutes in wins against Macclesfield and Solihull Moors respectively. He did start and complete 90 minutes in a draw with Torquay, but was back to being an unused substitute the following week, against Tran mere.

LOAN PLAYER OF THE MONTH:

Axel Andresson's rise at Bath has been impressive, and he not only scored another goal this month, but also took on the captaincy at just 19 years of age.

Special mention to Paolo Hurtado, who scored twice for Vitoria this month, and congratulations to Craig Tanner and his Plymouth team-mates, who secured promotion to League One with a 6-1 demolition of Notts County.

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