Loan Watch - A look at Aston Villa's youngsters What were Villa's loan rangers up to this weekend?By Gregg Evans 24 Feb 2014 10:09Jordan Bowery (Doncaster) - Mixed emotions for the young forward. Personally, Bowery would have been pleased to complete 90 minutes for the first time since August 2012. However, his loan club, Doncaster were beaten 1-0 by Yeovil, and his goal drought runs on. Speaking to reporters recently, Bowery said: “I just need to get the goals. I couldn’t tell you when the last time I scored a goal was. I’ve not scored for Villa so it’s been a while.”Well, the last time he bagged was the last time he played a full game before the weekend. It was during a 1-1 draw with Chesterfield. Bowery has scored just one competitive goal in 22 months and is looking to significantly improve that figure before he returns to Villa on March 15.Gary Gardner (Sheffield Wednesday) - Got 90 minutes under his belt with an excellent performance in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield. The 21-year-old has shown great promise in the early stages of his loan spell and is in line to feature again tonight in the FA Cup replay against Charlton at Hillsborough. Manager Stuart Gray has already praised his form alongside fellow loanee Sam Hutchinson. The Owls boss said: “Hutchinson and Gardner did really well considering they haven’t played much football together, and to get 95 minutes out of them at that intensity was great. They’re good players. They are not cup-tied and they come into my thoughts (for tonight).” Jack Grealish (Notts County) - Opened the scoring in a 3-2 defeat at home to Shrewsbury. The midfielder took his tally to five goals this season and is really reaping the benefits of a loan spell.Michael Drennan (Portsmouth) - Scored on his Portsmouth debut after coming off the bench for the second half in a 5-1 defeat to Scunthorpe. Only signed on Friday and is already making a big impression.Enda Stevens (Doncaster) - The Irish defender was an unused substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Yeovil. He has not featured since January 11.Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) - Missed Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bradford due to a knee injury. Has been a regular starter in previous weeks, impressing on many of his starts.Nathan Delfouneso (Coventry) - Hasn’t featured for the last two games due to injury. Is hoping to shake off a thigh strain in time for Sunday’s home clash with Shrewsbury. On loan until the end of the season.Darren Bent (Fulham) - Wasn’t in the squad for Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Albion.
Shay Given wants to complete another loan move away from Aston Villa and claims the club want him "out of the door".The 37-year-old has recently enjoyed a short-term spell at Middlesbrough, where he kept 10 clean sheets in 16 Championship matches.He wanted to extend the deal until the end of the campaign, although the move fell through because Villa would have been unable to recall him at 24 hours notice.However, Given can still join another club on loan before the end of March, with his future at Villa Park looking increasingly bleak.He told the Birmingham Mail: "It has been really frustrating not playing."That's obvious for everyone to see and the window doesn't open until the summer, so maybe there is a Championship club out there who might want me."I might go back out on loan again somewhere before the end of March."Aston Villa want me out of the door, so something might happen."Given still has two years remaining on his contract in the West Midlands, having signed from Manchester City back in 2011.However, he has found himself out-of-favour with boss Paul Lambert, who gave USA international Brad Guzan the nod ahead of him at the start of last season.Should a temporary move not be agreed next month, the veteran 'keeper is widely expected to leave this summer
Quote from: the mirrorShay Given wants to complete another loan move away from Aston Villa and claims the club want him "out of the door".The 37-year-old has recently enjoyed a short-term spell at Middlesbrough, where he kept 10 clean sheets in 16 Championship matches.He wanted to extend the deal until the end of the campaign, although the move fell through because Villa would have been unable to recall him at 24 hours notice.However, Given can still join another club on loan before the end of March, with his future at Villa Park looking increasingly bleak.He told the Birmingham Mail: "It has been really frustrating not playing."That's obvious for everyone to see and the window doesn't open until the summer, so maybe there is a Championship club out there who might want me."I might go back out on loan again somewhere before the end of March."Aston Villa want me out of the door, so something might happen."Given still has two years remaining on his contract in the West Midlands, having signed from Manchester City back in 2011.However, he has found himself out-of-favour with boss Paul Lambert, who gave USA international Brad Guzan the nod ahead of him at the start of last season.Should a temporary move not be agreed next month, the veteran 'keeper is widely expected to leave this summer
Drennan should play tonight for Portsmouth in their televised clash at Chesterfield.
I have a friend who - to his eternal shame - is an MK Dons fan and he says word is that Carruthers' injury is a nasty one. Better not be.