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Danzell Gravenberch - KSV Roeselare (Belgian First Division B) Appearances: 0
With first team opportunities limited at the Madejski this season, Gravenberch was sent out to the Belgian second tier in an attempt to improve both his fitness and game experience.
However, in his new side’s first two league fixtures the Dutch defender was absent from Roeselare’s match-day squad, reportedly due to both a foot injury and a lack of match sharpness.
Jonathan Bond - Peterborough United (League One) Appearances: 3
Like Gravenberch, with opportunities to play first-team football at Reading this season proving to be slim to none, Bond was farmed out to Peterborough on loan until January.
The former England U21 goalkeeper started well, providing a MOTM performance on debut in a 2-1 victory over Plymouth.
Bond also started in the 3-1 cup defeat to Barnet and 4-1 hammering of Bristol Rovers the following week, and Peterborough’s vocal owner Darragh MacAnthony voiced his delight at Bond’s strong performances on Twitter.
It's been too long since we've owned our own talented GK with immediate promise. He will rival Bondy who was incredible on Saturday btw https://t.co/FdvwFYvhVS
— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) August 7, 2017
MacAnthony also dropped an interesting hint as to the future of the keeper. When asked if he would be open (or able) to sign Bond permanently in the future, MacAnthony replied:
Doubtful with wages he is on lol but never say never as he's settled in superbly. https://t.co/V8fvEEL7N4
— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) August 7, 2017
Luke Southwood - Bath City (National League South) Appearances: 4
There was speculation at the start of the summer that, with his contract up, Reading’s talented young goalkeeper may have been departing the club, with Crystal Palace linked with the England U20 goalkeeper.
But, having signed a new contract, Southwood committed his future to the Berkshire club before joining Bath on loan after a successful trial.
He has featured in all four games this season, including in defeats to Chippenham Town and Bognor Regis and a win against Truro City on Tuesday night.
Lewis Ward - Hungerford Town (National League South) Appearances: 4 Clean Sheets: 2
Ward joined Hungerford on loan during the summer, and has already kept clean sheets in half of his matches, in a 0-0 draw with Dartford and 2-0 win over Weston-Super-Mare.
Ward’s loan deal with the club is reportedly to run until February.
Rob Dickie - Lincoln City (League Two) Appearances: 3
Dickie may have hoped to break into Jaap Stam’s first-team plans this season, but the Dutchman clearly felt that continuing his football education in League Two would benefit the defender more than being in-and-around the squad for the season.
Dickie has played 90 minutes in every game so far for Lincoln, including in a 2-1 defeat to League One Rotherham.
Lincoln manager Danny Cowley sang the defender’s praises after securing his signature on a six-month deal:
“He’s had lots of League One clubs in for him but we’ve really been fighting for him.
“We think a lot of him”.
“He’s very good defensively and will do well in both boxes.
“He’s got fantastic distribution skills from the back.
“He can break the lines with passes into midfield and he can carry the ball into midfield.
“He’ll be a really good signing and we think, in our environment, that we can help his development.
“We think we’ve got a really good player on our hands.”
Cameron Green - Basingstoke Town (Southern League Premier Division) Appearances: 1
Both Green and academy team-mate Conor Davis joined Basingstoke on emergency loans until September 11th, and both of the youngsters played 45 minutes in their side’s 3-1 defeat to Frome Town.
Conor Davis - Basingstoke Town (Southern League Premier Division) Appearances: 1
As above.
Yakou Meite - FC Sochaux (Ligue 2) Appearances: 1
Since joining the Ligue 2 side on loan in search for more game-time, the young Frenchman has found it difficult to break into the Sochaux side, making just one appearance for the club (being withdrawn in the 57th minute in a 3-1 defeat to Valenciennes) and being an unused substitute twice.
Meite was clearly aggrieved at Reading seemingly replacing him at the club, as he tweeted (and quickly deleted) this after the club gave new signing Leandro Bacuna his former squad number (19):
Yakou Meite tweeted this before deleting it #readingfc pic.twitter.com/gePlhbvCLi
— Jack (@thesimpsonRFC) August 14, 2017
Deniss Rakels - Lech Poznan (Ekstraklasa) Appearances: 3
Rakels has endured a tough start top life back in Poland, featuring in only three matches for the club and earning more stick than praise for his performances.
Rakels AGAIN getting slated for a poor performance for Lech Poznan. #readingfc https://t.co/EQxruWBGyO
— Matheus (@maffff) July 25, 2017
Andrija Novakovich - SC Telstar (Eerste Divisie) Appearances: 0
Novakovich enjoyed a fine pre-season for Telstar after signing a new two-year deal with Reading before departing on loan, and the American striker has established himself as their main goal-scoring threat over the past few weeks with excellent performances.
Telstar kick off their season on Friday against Eindhoven and Novakovich will be hoping to earn the start and make his competitive debut for the club.
LOAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Jonathan Bond’s MOTM performance against Plymouth earns him this week’s accolade, and he’ll be hoping to continue that form as the season progresses.