League 2 sides are adding to their teams every day in this transfer window and some clubs are looking to the loan market in order to enhance their squads. League 2 clubs bringing in loans from higher divisions can be a succesful scenario for both parties, with the parent club having the benefit of their player getting game time and experience in a competetive league, and for the reciever who doesn’t have to pay a fee for the player as well as being able to utilise their footballing attributes for a certain period of time. In this article I will be looking at 5 players who have been loaned to League 2 clubs who could have a big impact this season.
1) Kwesi Appiah (Crystal Palace – Cambridge United)
Appiah, 23, has returned to Football League new boys Cambridge United after a succesful loan spell at the U’s in the early parts of the 2013-14 season, where he scored 10 goals in 14 games. He joined Palace after an excellent season with non-league outfit Margate where he averaged over 1 goal a game. Cambridge United’s Director of Football Jez George was delighted at tying down a deal until January, saying, “From the day Kwesi arrived at this football club last season, he hit it off with the players, the staff and the supporters”.
The striker has all the attributes to carry on where he left off at the Abbey Stadium, with bags of pace and his instinctive qualities in the 18 yard box. He is certainly one to watch this coming season.
2) Callum McFadzean (Sheffield United – Burton Albion)
McFadzean enjoyed a loan spell with The Brewers towards the end of last season and impressed manager Gary Rowett, who has swooped to finalise a six month deal from the Blades. He can operate anywhere down the left hand side and with a club like Burton Albion he will no doubt be part of a team challenging for promotion after a couple of near misses in recent seasons.
3) Miles Storey (Swindon Town – Portsmouth)
Known for his electric pace, Storey has the ability to frighten any League 2 defence. The 20 year old will be hoping to get some game time and show what he is really about, under the guidance of Andy Awford and the raucous support of the Fratton Park faithful Storey should be getting into double figures for Pompey next season.
4) Daniel Alfei (Swansea City – Northampton Town)
Chris Wilder has brought Swansea right back Daniel Alfei to Sixfields for the 2014/15 season. Alfei is a right back who likes to get forward and start attacks and the 22 year old will be looking to make an impression on Swans boss Garry Monk during his time with the Cobblers.
5) George Long (Sheffield United – Oxford United)
20 year old, 6 foot 4 Long has put pen to paper on a deal until January at the Kassam Stadium, where he will be hoping to show Nigel Clough his true potential. Despite his youth Long has made 73 appearances for the Blades and has also been capped for England at Under 20 and Under 21 level. He will be competing with Max Crocombe whilst regular keeper Ryan Clarke is still out injured, but he is most likely to be 1st choice keeper for the U’s for the time being. Oxford manager Michael Appleton could have pulled off a real coup here, he has been quoted as saying, “George is very highly rated and has been part of the England set-up so we are very excited to have him here. He is tall, he communicates well and likes to command his box”.
Long lost his place to more senior keeper Mark Howard in February when he returned from injury to play against Fulham in the FA Cup. Long made few appearances after that and hopefully this loan will give him more league experience. This transfer is an example of the loan market benefitting both clubs.
