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Joseph Mills - Burnley (Championship) Appearances: 9
After two months without a game Mills was a surprise inclusion in Sean Dyche's side for their trip to Birmingham. While Burnley got a point, it wasn't a great game for our loanee, who conceded a free-kick that led to a Birmingham goal and earned himself a booking in the process. It's been back to the bench ever since.
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Michael Hector
Aldershot (League 2) Appearances: 6 Goals: 1
Hector helped Aldershot to four points over the festive period and opened his account for the club with a fine long range strike at home to Bristol Rovers. He played the full 270 minutes in that time and has helped Aldershot move three points clear of the relegation places. He's also just agreed an extension to his loan period with the club, so will stay at The Rec for another month.
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Gozie Ugwu - Yeovil (League 1) Appearances: 5 (+13) Goals: 3
While Ugwu featured in three of Yeovil's last four games, he's not picked up too much gametime, clocking up a combined 12 minutes as a substitute. He's now played 18 times for Yeovil, but just five of those have come as a starter.
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Lawson D'Ath - Cheltenham (League 2) Appearances: 2 (+1) Goals: 1
A quiet enough festive period for 20-year-old D'Ath who played just 20 minutes of Cheltenham's 4-0 win over Wycombe, entering the game after all four goals had been scored. I asked Cheltenham blogger Mark Halliwell about D'Ath and here's what he had to say.
I have liked what I have seen of him. Against Exeter he was excellent and took goal well. Shone too v Wycombe as sub.
A lot of fans are surprised he hasn't had more of a chance.
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Jake Taylor - Cheltenham (League 2) Appearances: 8 Goals: 1
A busier time at Cheltenham for midfielder Taylor who started all three of Cheltenham's games, opening his account for the season with the first goal in their 4-0 win over Wycombe, also setting up the third. Again I asked Mark about Jake.
Jake - mixed so far - excellent goal v Wycombe but has been hit and miss in six games. Happier out wide than centrally.
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Angus MacDonald - Torquay (League 2) Appearances: 3 (+1)
MacDonald started both of the games to survive the wet weather in the South West, helping the Gulls to one point. Very little on MacDonald in either match report and the Torquay forums are surprisingly quiet on him as well, I suppose no news is good news....
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Karl Sheppard - Accrington (League 2) Appearances: 7(+5) Goals: 1
Still no sign of Sheppard. He's still listed on the Stanley website in the squad profiles but he hasn't featured since October 13th and given that his loan was an initial 6-month one, I doubt it'll be extended. He's still got 18-months left on his deal at Reading.
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Brett Williams - Woking (Conference Premier) Appearances: 10 (+9) Goals: 3 Red Cards: 1
Woking only played two games over Christmas and Williams wasn't eligible due to suspension.
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Ben Jefford - Basingstoke (Conference South) Appearances: 3
Jefford played one of 'Stokes two games over Christmas, playing in the 2-1 defeat at Farnborough where he picked up a 'needless' booking.
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Jon Henly - Hungerford Town (Southern League - Division One S&W) Appearances 1
Goalkeeper Henly put in a string of fine performances for Hungerford over the Christmas period, earning praise throughout the match reports for some fine saves and confident handling. There's obviously far stiffer challenges to come but getting practice playing against some brutal lower league forwards on poor pitches won't do him any harm.
A Royal Return
Simon Church - Huddersfield (Championship) Appearances: 7 Goals: 1
Huddersfield 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Church's loan spell ended with a bit of a whimper as he featured in just one of his final three games on loan at struggling Huddersfield. After a bright start that saw a goal and an assist in his first two, he went five without finding the net and returns to an uncertain future at the Madejski Stadium.
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Matt Partridge - Bognor Regis (Isthmian League - Premier Division) Appearances: 10 Goals: 1
Partidge played the 90 as Bognor lost 1-0 at Lewes in his final game at the club before returning to Reading. The club's official website praised the defender for an impressive loan spell, saying they'd be following his career with interest.
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