It was a largely frustrating weekend for West Ham United’s band of loanees.
In the Premier League, Ecuador international Enner Valencia was introduced after 62 minutes of Everton’s goalless draw at Middlesbrough, where he found his efforts frustrated by Aitor Karanka’s resilient side.
In the EFL, Toni Martinez was handed another start for League One side Oxford United, with the Spaniard being substituted for match-winner Kane Hemmings with 17 minutes of the U’s 1-0 victory over MK Dons remaining. Academy of Football graduate Rob Hall provided the cross for Hemmings’ goal at the Kassam Stadium.
Norway international Martin Samuelsen had only a few minutes to impress for Peterborough United in the same division, but the winger could not conjure an equaliser in the Posh’s 1-0 home defeat by leaders Sheffield United.
Alex Pike was handed a start for struggling Cheltenham Town in League Two, but a tactical switch by Robins’ manager Gary Johnson saw the full-back replaced after 43 minutes at Kevin Nolan’s Notts County. Cheltenham lost the game 2-1, with former Hammer Manny Onariase scoring a late consolation for the visitors.
Jaanai Gordon was introduced as a half-time substitute for League Two’s bottom side Newport County on Friday evening, but he could not quite break the deadlock in a goalless home draw with Doncaster Rovers at Rodney Parade.
Elsewhere, Marcus Browne was an unused substitute for Wigan Athletic in their 3-2 Championship defeat at Fulham. Fellow Latics loanee Reece Burke missed the game through injury.
Josh Cullen was also missing for Bradford City in their 1-1 League One draw at Bristol Rovers, having tweaked a thigh muscle in training. George Dobson was not involved for Walsall in their 4-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers in the same division.
Finally, goalkeeper Sam Howes helped Hampton & Richmond Borough to a 1-0 home victory over Margate in National League South, a result which keeps the Beavers sixth in the table.
A pair of Academy of Football youngsters have also been in action for Republic of Ireland at age-group level. Anthony Scully featured for the U19s in a 2-1 National Team Tournament defeat in La Manga, while Conor Coventry helped the U17s to 2-0 victories over Hungary and Romania at a warm-weather training camp in Spain.