Loan Watch: Kiwior’s defensive heroics continue | News

Many of our Men’s, Women’s and Academy players have been sent out on loan this season to gain experience and further action.

Jakub Kiwior continues to be part of an incredible defence for Porto, who kept two more clean sheets in as many wins over the Christmas period. Jakub played both full matches as the Liga Portugal leaders beat Alverca 3-0 on the road before last week’s 2-0 win at the Estadio do Dragao against AFS. On Sunday, he helped keep yet another clean sheet in a 1-0 win away to Santa Clara to remain top of Liga Portugal, now with an outrageous record of just four goals conceded in 17.

Brentford played out a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day with Reiss Nelson appearing for the final 11 minutes. The Bees then secured an impressive 4-2 away win at Everton on Sunday, with Reiss an unused substitute.

Nottingham Forest have been in plenty of action during the Premier League’s winter schedule, as Oleksandr Zinchenko played the full match in their 2-0 defeat by Everton at the City Ground last Tuesday. The full-back was then an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Aston Villa.

Fabio Vieira’s Hamburg and Karl Hein’s Werder Bremen are each next in competitive action next weekend following the Bundesliga’s festive break, though Karl’s Werder side played out a friendly contest with St Pauli on Sunday, ending in a goalless stalemate.

Moving towards our Hale End loanees, it continues to be a productive season at Shrewsbury Town for Ismeal Kabia despite the Shrews’ recent struggles in League Two. Ismeal played the full match on New Year’s Day as they suffered a 3-0 defeat by Bristol Rovers. They looked to make amends at Salford City on Sunday afternoon, but the contest was postponed due to snow and ice.

Maldini Kacurri has become a staple in the Morecambe line-up in the National League so far this season, playing the full 90 minutes on Tuesday as the Shrimps were edged out 1-0 by leaders Carlisle United. Morecambe’s contest at Altrincham on Saturday fell victim to inclement weather, postponement confirmed just six minutes prior to kick-off.

Elsewhere in the National League, Harrison Dudziak was given consecutive starts for Braintree Town over the festive period, playing his part in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Woking before an 80-minute appearance in a 3-1 defeat by Yeovil Town on Saturday.

We currently have seven loanees from our Women’s first team: Michelle Agyemang, Rosa Kafaji, Cecily Wellesley-Smith, Madison Earl, Jessie Gale, Naomi Williams and Vivienne Lia, whose respective sides are all back in action next weekend following the winter break across the WSL and WSL 2. Laila Harbert has returned to Arsenal from her productive loan spell with Portland Thorns, who ended their season across the pond with a NWSL play-off semi-final defeat by Washington, after a third-placed league finish.

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