Late transfer window switch and multiple positions - How Coventry City's loan players are getting on
Coventry City sent out just three players on loan over the summer, all of whom were sent out relatively late in the transfer window.
All are homegrown talents from the Sky Blues Cat Two Academy and have been farmed out to continue their development which, in some cases, might eventually result in the players finding their feet at other clubs.
In an ideal world, of course, they’d shine at their respective temporary homes before returning to stamp their mark at their parent club. Here we take a look at how the trio are getting on at their respective destinations.
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Jack Burroughs
It’s fair to say the 23-year-old Sky Blues Academy graduate has hit the ground running at his latest loan spell. Building on an impressive 35 appearances at League One Lincoln City last season, the versatile player has featured in all four of Kilmarnock’s games since joining the Scottish Premier side towards the end of last month.
He made his debut away at FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League, playing the entire game at right-back in a 2-0 defeat, before being pitched in at centre midfield at Aberdeen where he was once again on the end of a 2-0 loss, eventually reverting to full-back. However, he helped Killie to a 1-1 draw in the return leg against Copenhagen at Rugby Park when he was deployed at left-back.
And in his fourth consecutive appearance, he stepped off the bench to play at right-back in another 1-1 draw, this time at home to Hibernian. Kilmarnock are currently bottom of the division but Burroughs certainly seems to be getting game time.
Ryan Howley
Interestingly, Jack’s fellow Academy graduate and good friend is situated just 20 minutes down the road at Championship side Ayr United, having returned north of the border following a difficult season-long loan at Dundee last year, where his progress was largely hampered by injury.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who usually plays as a number ten or in a box-to-box role, had been wanted by League Two Swindon Town but that fell through due to priorities in other areas of the pitch. Heading in the opposite geographical direction, Howley made his debut from the bench just after the hour of a 1-1 draw at Dunfermline on the last day of August.
He’s also in familiar company with former Sky Blues development midfielder Marco Rus, who joined Ayr on a permanent deal in the summer and has made nine appearances to date, scoring one goal. Nuneaton lad Howley, meanwhile, made his first start on Sunday alongside Rus, helping The Honest Men to a 3-2 victory over Raith, having trailed 2-0 at the break.
Justin Obikwu
The 20-year-old striker who impressed early on in pre-season under Mark Robins has returned on loan to League Two Grimsby Town, albeit yet to feature for the Mariners due to an ankle injury. But the two clubs still agreed the season-long loan, with Obikwu hoped to be fit very soon and build on the 16 appearances and three goals he scored for the club during his spell in the second half of last term.