Newcastle United were beaten 4-1 by Manchester United on Saturday evening at St James’ Park, but it was a more positive weekend for some of the club’s loanees.
Several players left on loan before the closure of the transfer window as Steve Bruce looked to trim down his squad and provide youngsters with some valuable first-team experience.
And they were in action for their respective teams in the latest round of fixtures.
Here, we have taken a close look at how they got on.
Jake Turner
It was a difficult afternoon for the 21-year-old goalkeeper, who shipped four goals for Morecambe in their 4-0 defeat against Crawley Town.
Saturday’s result was only a second loss in six League Two games for Morecambe, and Turner has started in all of them.
A total of 13 goals conceded - at a rate of over two a game - is a little concerning, though. Still, Turner is getting some valuable experience in the lower reaches of the EFL.
Freddie Woodman
Another on-loan goalkeeper, Woodman made his fourth appearance of the season for Swansea City on Saturday but couldn’t prevent a 2-1 defeat against Huddersfield Town at the Liberty Stadium.
The 23-year-old has started well, though, letting in just three goals with Swansea sitting fourth in the early Championship standings.
Florian Lejeune
The 29-year-old defender is clearly not in Bruce’s plans, so it was no surprise to see him leave on loan.
Lejeune made his fifth La Liga appearance of the season on Sunday, starting on the left of Alaves’ back-three.
His side fell to a 2-0 loss against Elche, and are now in the bottom three with just four points from six games.
Yoshinori Muto
Muto is also in Spain, on loan at La Liga side Eibar. The Japanese forward started alongside Kike in attack on Sunday, but the forward was left frustrated by Osasuna’s defence.
A goalless draw left Eibar in 15th, and Muto is yet to get off the mark.
His new side will hope he finds form soon, given their troubles in front of goal, scoring just four times in six matches.
Lewis Cass
Hartlepool United were not in action this weekend after their National League fixture against Barnet was called off.
But Cass has impressed so far with the non-league side, starting in all four games and helping them to a return of three wins and a draw.
The 20-year-old centre-back, in the words of Pools manager Dave Challinor, has added “strength and versatility” to the defence.
Kelland Watts
It was a weekend to remember for Watts, who volleyed home a late winner for Plymouth Argyle against Northampton Town.
That was the defender’s first league goal for the club, and helped Plymouth climb to sixth in League One.
The 20-year-old also netted in the Carabao Cup last month, so it’s been a productive start for him on loan with the Pilgrims.
Mo Sangare & Tom Allan
Sangare and Allan both missed out on appearing in Accrington Stanley’s 2-0 defeat at Ipswich Town on Saturday, with the latter an unused substitute.
Sangare, meanwhile, was not a part of the squad as John Coleman’s side dropped to ninth in League One.
Elias Sorensen
Over in the Netherlands, Sorensen was introduced as a half-time substitute in Almere City’s 2-2 draw against Dordrecht in the Eerste Divisie.
The 21-year-old forward was a consistent goal scorer for Newcastle’s under-23s in Premier League 2, but is yet to get off the mark with the Dutch outfit.
