Twelve players out on loan for now and, while it's still a case of quantity rather than quality, there's been enough action this weekend to justify opening the office doors at Velikonja House and calling all available staff in to put together a new episode of Loan Watch for its loyal and discerning fanbase.
Let's start at Preston where Eoin Doyle (pictured) has hit some form, following his winner at Bolton with a late equaliser against QPR yesterday. A lot of praise from manager Simon Grayson regarding both his ability and character, it's a timely return to form for Eoin as Jermaine Beckford is fit again and pushing for a striking place after six months out. Not much else happening in the Championship, Tom Adeyemi and Joe Lewis didn't make their respective squads and Adam le Fondre didn't get on for Wolves. Federico Macheda made his second start for Nottingham Forest but was subbed in a 1-0 loss to Derby.
1,921 Gillingham fans made the trip to Southend to welcome Deji Oshilaja back for his second spell at the club. The usual eventful 90 minutes for Deji; a booking, a disallowed goal and a header blocked on the line along with some good defensive work in a 1-1 draw. Declan John played the 90 minutes at left-back for Chesterfield as they continued their recent revival with a hard fought 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe. Manager Danny Wilson feels a run of games for Declan could see him force his way into the Wales squad for the Euros. Unlikely but there's more chance of that than Russell Slade picking him I suppose.
Disappointingly, Matty Kennedy has found himself on the bench in the last couple of games at Port Vale after a very positive start there. It's hard to understand how such a talented footballer is struggling to make progress in the game but his lack of goals can't be helping, 2 goals in 71 first team appearances is a poor return. Tommy O'Sullivan has also had to make do with a place on the bench at Newport after a promising start at Portsmouth.
A good week for our foreign legion although Kenwyne Jones had to come off the bench in a 1-1 draw wherever it is he's playing. Filip Kiss is starting for Haugesund as they top the table in Norway after two games. Six Haugesund players were booked yesterday and Filip will be disappointed to have missed out. He'll make up for it in the coming weeks, no doubt. When Etien Velikonja scores two goals against a team called Heist, as happened yesterday, then there are plenty of opportunities for plays on words involving 'smash and grab', 'plunder', 'ramraid' etc but Loan Watch is a bit too highbrow for that kind of shenanigans and won't be stooping to that level, of course. A 4-0 win takes Lierse to 9th in the table, 21 goals in 24 games this season for Etien.
Plenty of goals for our former players including Peter Odemwingie at Bristol City, Haris Vuckic for Wigan, Mark Hudson, Matt Green and Jo Inge Berget.