Young guns hungry to make their mark

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JOHN Sheridan reckons he may have hit on the right formula for loan success.

Athletic’s manager has been rewarded for his work in the loan market with some excellent spells from players out of favour at their parent clubs.

Matt Palmer was so outstanding in midfield across 14 matches for Athletic that Burton took him back this week - despite Brewers boss Nigel Clough previously saying he was happy with his Palmer-less midfield options.

Wycombe striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway arrived at SportsDirect.com Park also without fanfare, but proved himself a powerful target man in 10 appearances - including two cracking goals.

Timmy Thiele hardly had a chance to make an impact before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his involvement, while Tareiq Holmes-Dennis had been settling in steadily.

But the hero of the moment is 23-year-old Curtis Main, who scored a third goal is as many games over 14 games for Sheridan.

Last season the then-Plymouth boss benefited from the likes of Charlton’s Holmes-Dennis, Andy Kellett of Bolton (now Wigan) and Bristol City’s Bobby Reid as he guided the Home Park club into the League Two play-offs.

He says his strategy of concentrating on youth and hunger is down to his previous management experience with Athletic.

“I learned a lot from the last time I was here about loan players. I brought a lot in who had been there, done it. It didn’t work out.

“Young players come in and they are hungry. They aren’t playing at their respective clubs and are out on loan for a reason, whatever it may be. The loan players I brought in at Plymouth did really well for me. It probably cost me promotion there as they had to go back. There’s nothing worse than being sat on your backside on a Saturday when you should be playing.”


Sheridan’s loan players from his previous time with Athletic.



2006-07:

Hasney Aljofree (age 28), Plymouth. Played: 5.

Leon Clarke (22), Wolves. Played: 5; Goals: 3.

Tomasz Cywka (18), Wigan. Played: 0 (4 as sub).

Luigi Glombard (22), Cardiff. Played: 3 (5); Goals: 1.

Lewis Grabban (18), Crystal Palace. Played: 2 (8).

Chris Howarth (20), Bolton. Played: 3 (1).

David Knight (19), Middlesbrough. Played: 2.

Adam Legzdins (19), Birmingham. Played: 0 (1).

Maheta Malango (24), Brighton. Played: 3 (2); Goals: 1.

Miki Roque (20), Liverpool. Played: 1 (3).

Ben Turner (18), Coventry. Played: 1.



2007-08:

Marlon Beresford (38), Luton. Played: 6.

Ryan Bertrand (18), Chelsea. Played: 23.

Leon Constantine (29), Leeds. Played: 7 (1); Goals: 2.

Stuart Giddings (21), Coventry. Played: 3.

Jason Jarrett (28), Plymouth. Played: 12 (3); Goals: 3.

Neil Kilkenny (21), Birmingham. Played: 24 (1); Goals: 3.

David Livermore (27), Hull. Played: 10; Goals: 1.

Richard O'Donnell (19), Sheffield Wednesday. Played: 3 (1).

Jordan Robertson (20), Sheffield United. Played: 2 (1); Goals: 1.



2008-09:

Jan Budtz (29), Hartlepool. Played: 3.

Darren Byfield (32), Doncaster. Played: 8; Goals: 1.

Fabio Ferreira (19), Chelsea. Played: 0 (1).

Scott Golbourne (20), Reading. Played: 7 (1).

Seb Hines (20), Middlesbrough. Played: 4.

Daniel Jones (21), Wolves. Played: 25; Goals: 1.

Steve Kabba (27), Watford. Played: 7 (1).

Brett Ormerod (31), Preston. Played: 2 (3).

Dean Windass (39), Hull. Played: 9 (2); Goals: 1.