Bristol City, Leeds, Wolves, Wigan, Barnsley and Huddersfield loanees all feature.
Bristol City loan star Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring against Aston Villa
Shrewd use of the loan market can make or break a Championship teams season, especially for clubs who don’t have the budget to compete financially at the very top end of the division. Never has that been more clearly visible than at the start of this season, with two of the divisions high flyers – Huddersfield Town and Bristol City – having picked up gems in the loan market.
The divisions current top scorer, Tammy Abraham, is on-loan at Bristol City from Chelsea, and it is not a rare occurrence for loan stars to rank among the divisions top marksmen. In 2014/15, Patrick Bamford, on-loan at Middlesbrough, also from Chelsea, struck 17 times. In 2012/13, Matej Vydra bagged 22 goals whilst on-loan at Watford from Udinese and even going back as far as the 2007/08 season, loan star Fraizer Campbell was instrumental in Hull City’s promotion to the Premier League.
The strength of our Championship loan XI illustrates the quality available in the loan market provided you know where to look. It is also noticeable that the majority of loan stars tend to be forwards, followed by wingers, with much more of a dearth of talent in certain defensive areas. Here is our Championship loan XI:
David Wagner has done some fine work in the loan market at Huddersfield
Goalkeeper: Adam Bogdan (Wigan Athletic)
Adam Bogdan, Danny Ward and Ben Amos are the only first choice goalkeepers currently on-loan at Championship clubs, and it is Bogdan who gets the nod for our XI. The Hungarian international joined Liverpool in 2015, but has played only 6 games for the clubs first team since making the move.
Having been deemed surplus to requirements by Jurgen Klopp following the arrival of Lorus Karius, Bogdan was allowed to join Wigan Athletic on-loan in the summer and the former Bolton man has been an ever-present this season since joining the Latics.
Left-Back: Luke Garbutt (Wigan Athletic)
Highly-rated young left-back Luke Garbutt made 10 appearances for Everton in the 2014/15 season, and some expected him to have seen more first team action by this stage of his career, but the 23-year-old is now in his fourth loan spell.
Following a season each at Cheltenham, Colchester and Fulham, Garbutt is currently a teammate of Bogdan’s at Wigan. The former England under-21 international has joined Gary Caldwell’s men on a four-and-a-half month loan deal.
Centre-Back: Pontus Jansson (Leeds United)
Rajiv van La Parra of Huddersfield Town in action with Pontus Jansson of Leeds United
It’s fair to say Pontus Jansson has made a big impression since joining Leeds United on-loan from Torino at the start of the season. The Sweden international has won numerous plaudits for his exceptional defensive displays in a Leeds backline which has been shaky for a number of years now.
Centre-Back: Kyle Bartley (Leeds United)
Whilst it has been Jansson who has caught the most eyes and won the most headlines, Kyle Bartley has also made a big impact at Elland Road since being reunited with former boss Garry Monk. The Swansea City loanee impressed last season with Birmingham City and is now looking very solid alongside Jansson at Leeds.
Right-Back: Tomas Kalas (Fulham)
Capable of playing as either a centre back or right back, it’s the full-back position that Kalas has to take up in our XI. One of the many, many, Chelsea players out on loan, Kalas is already in his seventh loan spell since joining Chelsea in 2010. However, now at Fulham, Kalas has started the season well, and is even statistically one of the best passers in the Championship.
Left Midfield: Christian Atsu (Newcastle United)
Christian Atsu scores for Newcastle United against Rotherham
Christian Atsu has had less game time than the rest of this XI, but in terms of talent, he is well worth his place. Having broken into the Porto first team at 19, Atsu was snapped up by Chelsea in 2013, and he is currently in his fifth loan move away from Stamford Bridge.
Despite having made less than 100 league appearances during his career to date, the 24-year-old has already amassed 42 caps for Ghana. He is currently on-loan at promotion hopefuls Newcastle United, where competition for places is tough but he should progress well under the watchful eye of Rafa Benitez.
Central Midfield: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
One of the Championship’s outstanding players this season to date, whilst Huddersfield have been a magnificent team in the early stages of the season, Mooy has been the jewel in their crown. Having dominated Australia’s A-League for the last two seasons, there were doubts over whether Mooy could replicate that form in the Championship.
Such concerns have been quickly put to bed. On-loan from Manchester City, Mooy has been exceptional for the Terriers, helping them to the top of the league at this stage. The Huddersfield Town midfielder is also among the divisions top tacklers.
Central Midfield: Joao Teixeira (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Joao Teixeira in action for Wolves
The loan market was clearly an area Wolverhampton Wanderers new owners wanted to exploit, bringing in 5 loan players over the summer, 3 of whom arrived from Portuguese giants Benfica.
Midfield maestro Joao Teixeira was one of that trio, and it is he who has had the biggest impact at Molineux since joining Wolves. He has made 13 appearances and scored 2 goals during his brief Championship career to date.
Right Midfield: Ryan Kent (Barnsley)
For a long time Ryan Kent has been talked about as one of the hottest prospects at Anfield, but now aged 19, it is time for him to start turning that potential into performances.
He impressed last season on-loan at Coventry, but often only in flashes. He is likely to see a lot of game time at Barnsley this season, and could become one of the most dangerous wide men in the division.
Centre-Forward: Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Whilst there are a plethora of young, exciting up-and-coming talents in this XI, one ought not overlook the golden oldies out on loan. And when it comes to them, there’s no finer example in the Championship than Brighton forward Glenn Murray.
The 33-year-old former Crystal Palace man scored 8 goals in 18 games last time he played Championship football at Reading, and 30 goals in 42 games in his last full season in England’s second tier. Now on-loan from Bournemouth at Brighton, Murray has already bagged 5 goals in 12 outings for the Seagulls.
Centre-Forward: Tammy Abraham (Bristol City)
Tammy Abraham has been sensational for Bristol City
He’d face stiff competition from Aaron Mooy, but you could make a very good argument for Tammy Abraham being the standout name in this XI. The tall and talented striker has been majestic at Ashton Gate since joining Lee Johnson’s men on-loan from Chelsea.
A return of 11 goals from 14 games in what is essentially the forwards first taste of first team football (he has made two sub appearances for Chelsea) is nothing short of remarkable. If he can stay fit, the Robbins could well be outside promotion hopefuls this season.
Honourable Mentions
Elias Kachunga (Huddersfield Town), Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham City), Adam Armstrong (Barnsley), Pablo Hernandez (Leeds United), Helder Costa (Wolves) and Tommie Hoban (Blackburn Rovers).
Who has been the Championship’s best loan star this season?
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