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Reading FC Loan Round-Up: November 20th

Struggles for a keeper, a rare start for a full-back but a goal for a highly touted winger - here's how Reading's loanees are getting on.

By TalkMurtyToMe
Pete Norton/Getty Images

Lewis Ward - Margate (National League South) Appearances: 17 Clean Sheets: 3

Ward only played once this fortnight, in a defeat to Whitehawk back in October. He was dropped, presumably rested, in Margate's second defeat of the week, against Truro City.

Ward took the opportunity to rest to visit his old school to chat to the children and see his old teachers.

George Legg - Hungerford (National League South) Appearances: 20 Clean Sheets: 8

The young keeper has become a mainstay in the Hungerford side this season, and played every minute of their matches over the past fortnight, in a 2-2 draw with Maidenhead, a humbling 5-0 defeat against St Albans and a 1-0 triumph over Welling.

After the embarrassing defeat to St Albans, Legg and his team-mates bounced back strongly last week with that victory over Welling, and Legg responded to the win on Twitter;

Paolo Hurtado - Vitoria de Guimaraes (Liga NOS) Appearances: 11 Goals: 1

Hurtado has enjoyed a fine return to Portugal after a difficult time in England with the club, and that return has continued this fortnight, as he started both of Vitoria's matches, in a 2-1 win against Nacional and an eye-catching 3-0 victory over Rio Ave which put them just two points behind 2nd-placed Porto.

Sean Long - Cambridge United (Football League Two) Appearances: 10

Sean Long finally got a game, 90 minutes in fact, under his belt for Cambridge after a slow start that has seen him make only ten appearances since joining at the start of the season. He played 90 minutes in a 2-0 defeat to Scunthorpe, after sitting out a defeat to Portsmouth and draw against Dover on the bench. Post-Scunthorpe, he returned to the bench, in a 3-1 win over Crawley.

Speaking particularly on Long and his lack of game-time, manager Shaun Derry said;

"You want everybody to have the outlook when they come into a new football club that they’re going to play," said Derry.

"It's difficult to get in the team and difficult to get in the squad of 18.

"Unfortunately at this moment in time he falls under the unhappy category. While that’s taking place it proves everybody is on top of their game.

Craig Tanner - Plymouth Argyle (Football League Two) Appearances: 16 Goals: 3

Unlike Long, Tanner hasn't found game-time hard to come by at Plymouth, featuring in every game over the past fortnight. One knock on Tanner thus far in his career is that he hasn't scored enough goals, but he silenced those critics this week with two goals in four games. He bagged the opener in a 2-1 win against Colchester as well as the equaliser in a 2-1 win over Crewe, and Argyle fans were certainly happy with his contribution;

Aaron Kuhl - Boreham Wood (National League Prem) Appearances: 7

Kuhl's season so far has followed a very similar trajectory to that of Sean Long. He has made just seven appearances for Boreham Wood since joining on loan, and his only appearance this fortnight was an eleven minute cameo at the end of his side's 2-0 defeat to Lincoln. That's hardly inspiring and it's become a big concern as he struggles to get into the non-league side after failing to impress on loan in the SPL last season.

The concern is apparent with the views of these Reading fans too;

Rob Dickie - Cheltenham Town (Football League Two) Appearances: 17 Goals: 2

Dickie played 90 minutes in all six of Cheltenham's games this fortnight, in wins against Crewe and Bolton, draws against Blackpool, Portsmouth and Crewe, and a defeat to Hartlepool. In the 4-1 victory over Crewe, Dickie grabbed the assist for Jack Barthram's goal - Cheltenham's second - as they romped to victory, and Town fans just can't get enough of the young defender at the minute.

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

Unfortunately, a groin injury has kept Bond out of the Gillingham team for most of the season, and a recurrence of that injury a couple of weeks ago kept him out of a further five matches this fortnight.

As of November 18th there is no time-frame for his return.

Jack Stacey - Exeter (Football League Two) Appearances: 12

Stacey played three matches this fortnight, and sat out two of them. He got the final eleven minutes in a 3-0 win over Morecambe, before completing 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat to Luton. He was then dropped for the draw against Swindon before playing another 90 minutes, this time in a 3-1 defeat to Doncaster.

Here's Jack previewing Saturday's opponents, Carlisle United, a team in which he spent a successful loan spell at last season:

Tariqe Fosu - Colchester United (Football League Two) Appearances: 12 Goals: 1

Tariqe grabbed his first Colchester goal this fortnight, coming on at half-time in against Chesterfield and scoring the equalising goal within seconds.

Fosu marked his 21st birthday with that goal, but it wasn't enough to prevent his side from slipping to a 2-1 defeat.

Fosu also got game-time in two other matches this fortnight, coming on in stoppage time in a defeat to Plymouth, and getting the final 22 minutes in a 3-0 defeat to Leyton Orient.

Dom Hyam - Portsmouth (Football League Two) Appearances: 0

Not sure what the point was of loaning Dom Hyam for Portsmouth to be honest. He was left off last week's round-up as the assumption was that he had returned to Reading after making no appearances for the former FA Cup winners. However Hyam made the bench once over the past fortnight, in a win against Bristol Rovers but he did not make the field.

LOAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Two goals for Craig Tanner earns him the award this week. Honourable mentions to Tariqe Fosu for scoring his first Colchester goal and Rob Dickie for his assist against Crewe.


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