Southampton loaned Jake Hesketh to Burton Albion in the summer transfer window and he was their EFL Cup hero again on Tuesday.
It is not often that a loan player establishes himself as a modern club legend in the space of a few months, but Jake Hesketh might have done just that at Burton Albion.
The 22-year-old midfielder moved to the Pirelli Stadium on loan from Southampton in the summer and has been at the forefront of an unexpected run to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
Not only did Hesketh fire home a stunning volley in the 3-1 beating of Nottingham Forest in the fifth round, he then went one better by scoring the winner away to Middlesbrough on Tuesday which seals Burton’s place in the final four.
But whether Hesketh will still be around to feature in the two legged semi-final remains to be seen. The Stockport-born youngster’s loan spell is only due to run until January.
Although, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sport’s Breaktfast on talkSPORT (19 December, 9:00am), Hesketh has admitted that Burton are in talks with Southampton to extend his contract until the end of the season, and the player himself would be more than happy to stay.
“As it stands I won’t be here (but) I’m hoping I’ll be here for the semi-finals because it’s a game that all players want to play in,” Hesketh said.
“I believe so (that talks are ongoing) but ill leave that to the clubs and keep focusing on playing football.”
With Ralph Hasenhuttl taking over from Mark Hughes at Southampton, Hesketh can harbour hopes of finally forcing his way into the Saints’ first-team with the Austrian developing a reputation as a coach willing to give youth a chance.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
