It's lucky that Loan Watch takes time out to join in the festivities that celebrate the birth of the Messiah (Etien Velikonja was 27 on Boxing Day), there's been little else for it to get excited about lately. Only ten players out on loan for now; Filip Kiss is between seasons in Norway, Etien Velikonja is on a mid-season break, Tom Adeyemi didn't get on for Leeds yesterday nor Joe Lewis for Fulham, Adam le Fondre came on in injury time for Wolves and Newport's game was postponed. Russell Slade seems to have given the green light for Tommy O'Sullivan and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb's loan spells at Newport to be extended although that hasn't been confirmed yet.
Semi Ajayi probably wishes Crewe's game with Coventry had been called off too as he suffered a torrid afternoon being given the runaround by Adam Armstrong as Crewe lost 5-0 at home to go bottom of League 1. A better afternoon for Eoin Doyle though as he started, and scored, for Preston at home to Rotherham. He should have got a second too but it didn't matter as Preston ran out 2-1 winners.
Deji Oshilaja didn't get on for Gillingham but his situation is interesting as his initial loan spell finishes today. Gillingham are very keen for the loan to be extended, manager Justin Edinburgh said in the week that Deji is in form and has been 'the mainstay of what we have done here...Deji is like one of our own, hopefully there will be good news'. However, as City only have two fit centre-halves for now (assuming Gabriel Tamas is finished here) and as Deji is not cup-tied then it seems a perfect time to recall him. Saying that, we'll probably re-sign Danny Gabbidon again. Time will tell.
Of our former players, Josh Yorwerth has gone back on loan to Crawley for the remainder of the season and there were goals yesterday for Jon Meades, Josh Magennis and Matt Green.