Mid-Season Everton Loan Recap: How Are the Blue Loansters Getting On?

As we start 2020, let’s take a look to see how Everton’s 14 out-on-loan players are getting on.

It’s been, at best, a mixed bag. But there are a few glimmers of hope.

The Youngsters

Kieran Dowell – Derby County (now Wigan)

Now 22, Kieran Dowell needed an immaculate loan spell in the Championship if he wanted to be considered part of Everton’s future.

Unfortunately, after starting the first six games of the season for Derby, his loan spell has gone very badly. The attacking midfielder has started just two games since August and didn’t even make the bench for Wayne Rooney’s Derby debut. Less than 24 hours later it was confirmed that Dowell’s loan at the Rams had been cut short, with the midfielder joining fellow Championship side Wigan instead.

Dowell has 18 months left on his Everton contract and you’d expect the Blues to try and cash-in on him this summer if the opportunity arises.

Stats:

Total Apps: 8(2)

Total Minutes: 702

Goals: 0

Assists: 1

Grade: D

Joao Virginia – Reading

After enjoying a title-winning season for Everton’s under-23s in 2019/20, Joao Virginia had hoped to get his first senior experience between the sticks. However, his move to Championship side Reading has gone very badly for the 20-year-old.

The Portuguese shot stopper started the first two games of the season for the Royals, however the error-strewn performances saw him ship five goals and led him to drop to the bench. He earned a recall for their third round League Cup tie against Wolves, however another horrible mistake saw Wolves take the lead, before the Premier League side went on to win on penalties.

Since then, Virginia hasn’t even made the Royals bench. Hopefully Everton have the option to recall him in January and find him another home for the second half of the season.

Total Apps: 3(0)

Total Minutes: 270

Goals Conceded: 6

Clean Sheets: 0

Grade: F

Nathan Broadhead – Burton Albion

The 21-year-old winger featured heavily in Everton’s pre-season, but was eventually sent out on loan to League One Burton for the season.

And he got off to a flying start by scoring a brace on his debut, however things have tailed off a bit for the Welsh winger with a hamstring injury curtailing his involvement throughout December.

Broadhead did, though, net against Premier League opposition as he scored the second goal as Burton surprised Bournemouth with a 2-0 win in the League Cup.

Hopefully he can get and stay fit for the second half of the season and help mid-table Burton make a push for the play-off spots.

Total Apps: 13(4)

Total Minutes: 1,141

Goals: 3

Assists: 1

Grade: C+

Jonjoe Kenny – Schalke

What a move this has turned out to be for Jonjoe Kenny. The 22-year-old right-back has missed less than 10 minutes of action for Schalke this season, with David Wagner’s side currently sitting in fifth place level on points with Borussia Dortmund.

As well as proving solid defensively, Kenny has also chipped in with a very good goal as well as two assists. His season has gone so well, in fact, that he has even reportedly attracted the interest of Arsenal and Spurs. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves on that one, though.

That said, he’s definitely put himself in the reckoning for being Everton’s first choice right-back next season – although Djibril Sidibe may have something to say about that, let alone Seamus Coleman.

Total Apps: 19(0)

Total Minutes: 1,703

Goals: 1

Assists: 2

Grade: A

Josh Bowler – Hull City

Everton under-23s other flying winger from the 2019/20 season has been on loan at Championship side Hull City this season and after a relatively slow start, he’s becoming an increasingly important member of the squad.

He’s primarily been used as a sub for Hull and had to wait until late October to get his first league start, but he’s been getting more and more minutes at the KC Stadium of late.

Bowler has his work cut out getting a start for Hull largely due to the fact that they already boast two of the league’s best wingers in experienced Polish international Kamil Grosicki and the highly-rated Jarrod Bowen.

Nevertheless, Bowler is doing well in what is his first taste of senior football, although he still needs to work on his final product somewhat.

Total Apps: 9(14)

Total Minutes: 908

Goals: 1

Assists: 1

Grade: C+

Korede Adedoyin – Hamilton Academical

In a surprising summer move, 19-year-old winger, Korede Adedoyin, joined SPL side Hamilton Academical on loan.

Sadly, he’s not even made a matchday squad for his new team. The only report of action regarding the youngster came as he played 59 minutes in a cup tie for the Hamilton development team in August.

Total Apps: 0(0)

Total Minutes: 0

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Grade: U

Fraser Hornby – KV Kortrijk

The big Scottish striker made an interesting move to Belgian side KV Kortrijk late in August and it’s been a mixed bag for the 20-year-old so far.

After recovering from a sprained ankle, he led the Kortrijk front line for his first eight games, scoring three goals. However, he was in and out of the team during December and will be hoping to regain his starting spot for the struggling Belgian side.

Total Apps: 14(1)

Total Minutes: 866

Goals: 4

Assists: 1

Grade: C

Callum Connolly – Lincoln City

After failing to secure a Championship loan before the early transfer deadline, Callum Connolly went on to join League One’s Lincoln City shortly after the Blues faced them in the League Cup.

The versatile 22-year-old initially played an important role for Lincoln in a defensive midfield position, however he’s fallen out of favour somewhat since the club’s change in management.

His last appearances came at centre-back in November, but he could only make the bench for all of Lincoln’s December fixtures.

Total Apps: 13(2)

Total Minutes: 1,040

Goals: 0

Assists: 1

Grade: C-

The Deadwood

Luke Garbutt – Ipswich Town

Garbutt was embroiled in a drawn-out contract saga after breaking into Everton’s first team in 2015. However, the full-back has never lived up to his potential since signing his big money deal and he’s now finally entering the last six months of his deal at Goodison Park.

After mixed loan spells at Fulham, Wigan and Oxford in recent seasons, the 26-year-old seems to have finally found his feet at League One Ipswich, where he has proven to be a real danger in various position on the left flank.

His Everton career will be over come the summer, but he shouldn’t be short of suitors having bagged six goals already for the promotion-chasing Tractor Boys this term.

Total Apps: 18(1)

Total Minutes: 1,613

Goals: 6

Assists: 1

Grade: B+

Matthew Pennington – Hull City

25-year-old Pennington has typically impressed wherever he’s gone on loan, but he’s struggling for game time this season, with 18 months still left on his Everton contract.

Like Dowell, a permanent move away from Goodison should await Pennington come the summer, but he really needs to find a way to break into Hull’s backline in order to entice potential suitors.

Pennington, who can play at centre-back or right-back had to wait until New Years’ Day to make his first start and has completed just 160 minutes of league action so far. Hopefully he can find a place in Hull’s play-off chasing team in the second half of the season.

Total Apps: 4(1)

Total Minutes: 340

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Grade: D

Mo Besic – Sheffield United

After an underwhelming loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, it was surprising to see Mo Besic secure a Premier League loan this time around.

However, game time hasn’t been forthcoming for the 26-year-old Bosnian at Bramall Lane. Until December, Besic was firmly rooted to the Blades’ bench, only seeing nine minutes of action.

The festive period proved more fruitful for the tough tackling midfielder, though, making several substitute cameos from the bench before starting United’s 2-0 defeat at Man City.

Total Apps: 3(5)

Total Minutes: 313

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Grade: D

Shani Tarashaj - Emmen

The illusive Swiss player’s career continues to nosedive. He’s not played a minute of league action for Emmen in Eredivisie, with his only action coming for their under-21 team. The 24-year-old’s Everton contract expires in 2021, but his loan deal in Holland covers the same period.

Total Apps: 0(0)

Total Minutes: 0

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Grade: U

Sandro Ramirez – Real Valladolid

Oh, Sandro. What could have been.

The 23-year-old former Barca man is a regular start in the Real Valladolid’s front line, but goals still aren’t forthcoming.

That said, he scored his first goal in over two years with a thumping effort in November. He hasn’t scored since, though.

Total Apps: 10(3)

Total Minutes: 756

Goals: 1

Assists: 0

Grade: C-

Yannick Bolasie – Sporting Lisbon

Bolasie has been a regular starter for Sporting Lisbon, with the Portuguese side in their customary third spot in the league and into the knockout stages of the Europa League. He’s done alright.

His Everton contract expires in 2021, but hopefully he does enough to convince Sporting to exert their buy option come the summer.

Total Apps: 17(2)

Total Minutes: 1,347

Goals: 2

Assists: 4

Grade: B