Loanee round-up

Reece Burke

 

  • Reece Burke and Wigan Athletic suffer relegation from the Sky Bet Championship at Reading
  • Josh Cullen's Bradford City and Sam Howes' Hampton & Richmond Borough bound for Play-Offs
  • Enner Valencia starts for Everton in defeat by Premier League leaders Chelsea

West Ham United players featured during an eventful weekend of action in the Premier League, Sky Bet EFL and non-league.

Reece Burke suffered the disappointment of relegation from the Championship with Wigan Athletic, as the Latics lost 1-0 at Reading to lose their second-tier status.

To add injury to insult, Burke was also forced off late in the first half with an injury, with the defender having only recently returned from a lengthy spell out with a hip problem.

Fellow Academy of Football graduate Reece Oxford was an unused substitute for Reading at the Madejski Stadium, while former Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen remained on the bench for Wigan.

In League One, George Dobson completed the full 90 minutes for Walsall, but the Saddlers were beaten 4-1 at home by MK Dons to finish the season in 14th place.

The midfielder ended his first season as a senior footballer with 26 appearances under his belt for Walsall, including 21 in League One, and one goal.

With his side guaranteed to finish fifth, Josh Cullen was rested by Bradford City manager Stuart McCall ahead of the Bantams’ Play-Off semi-final with Fleetwood Town.

Scunthorpe United will face Millwall in the other semi-final after the Lions dramatically edged out a Southend United squad containing Anton Ferdinand, Zavon Hines and Frank Nouble on the final afternoon by beating Bristol Rovers 4-3.

Another young Hammers loanee bound for the Play-Offs is goalkeeper Sam Howes, who has helped Hampton & Richmond Borough reach the post-season in Vanarama National League South. There, the Beavers face Ebbsfleet United in a two-legged semi-final.

Finally, Enner Valencia played the first 72 minutes of Everton’s 3-0 home Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Goodison Park, being substituted when his side were just a single goal behind.