Sheffield United loan watch: Luke Freeman 'a bit off the mark' for Nottingham Forest at Middlesbrough and Rhys Norrington-Davies injured playing for Luton Town

Sheffield United have now lost six of their opening seven Premier League games and sit in 18th place with just a single point to their name after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
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But how did the players currently not part of Chris Wilder’s first team squad get on for their loan clubs at the weekend. Did they fare any better?

Let’s take a look.

Luke Freeman

Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a hamstring injury playing for Luton Town against Brentford at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a hamstring injury playing for Luton Town against Brentford at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a hamstring injury playing for Luton Town against Brentford at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

The 28-year-old attacker is currently on a season-long loan with Championship side Nottingham Forest, who – like his parent club - have also made a poor start to their league campaign and find themselves just a place above the drop zone despite being among the favourites for promotion this year.

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Freeman, who joined United for a then club record £5m from Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2019, had impressed in his opening games for the Reds but his form has dipped of late and was substituted in the 64th minute of Chris Hughton’s side’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

In giving him a score of five out of 10, Nottinghamshire Live’s Forest correspondent Sarah Clapson wrote of Freeman’s display: “Far from being the only one, but was a bit off the mark. Got into some decent positions, just couldn’t get the final ball right.”

Rhys Norrington-Davies

Twenty-one-year-old Norrington-Davies has impressed for Championship outfit Luton Town after joining the Hatters on loan for the 2020/21 campaign.

His performances for the Kenilworth Road club have earned the left-back a call-up to the Wales national squad, leading to him making his senior debut for Ryan Giggs’ side against Bulgaria last month.

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But the Wales under-21 international maybe facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the 3-0 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “It’s fatigue in his hamstring, so we’ll see how it is. “We’ll scan it, hopefully it’s not a tear or anything, it’s just symptomatic of the amount of games he’s had to play as a 21-year-old.”

Jake Eastwood

The 24-year-old goalkeeper joined Scottish Premiership outfit Kilmarnock in July but suffered a thigh injury on his debut against Hibernian in early August and returned to Bramall Lane to receive treatment. He should be in contention for selection in the coming weeks as he completes his rehabilitation.

David Parkhouse

The Northern Ireland under-21 international forward signed for National League side Hartlepool United on loan until January in September.

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Parkhouse, who has yet to make a first-team appearance for United, played in Pools’ 5-0 drubbing at home to Torquay United on Saturday – the North East side’s heaviest defeat in the National League.

The result saw Dave Challinor’s side drop to sixth in the table with 11 points from their opening six games.

In giving him a match rating of four out of 10, Dominic Scurr, of the Hartlepool Mail, wrote of Parkhouse’s performance: “Should have scored in the second half but dragged a good opportunity wide. Wasteful.”

Tyler Smith

Twenty-one-year-old striker Smith joined League One outfit Swindon Town on a season-long loan in August.

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The forward, who has not made a senior appearance for the Blades, has scored five goals in eight games so far but was unable to add to his tally on Saturday against Hull City after pulling up with an injury during the pre-match warm-up.

Marcus Dewhurst

Young goalkeeper Dewhurst re-joined League Two Carlisle United on a temporary basis until January 2021 at the end of August.

The 19-year-old had previously joined the Cumbrians on-loan on deadline day last January, but failed to make a competitive appearance before Covid-19 brought about the suspension of league football in England.

Dewhurst was once again on the bench for Carlisle’s 1-0 defeat at Exeter City on Saturday.

Ismaila Coulibaly

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Mali under-20 midfielder Coulibaly joined United from Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg 08 last month and was immediately sent out on loan for the next three seasons to high-flying Belgian side Beerschot, the Blades’ sister club.

Coulibaly, who has been named in United’s list of U21 players for the 2020/21 season, has scored two goals in the Belgian Pro League and was named in the Beerschot starting XI for their game with Leuven on Saturday, which they won 3-2 to move up to second place. He was substituted in the 75th minute of the victory.

Stephen Mallon

The Blades’ under-23 winger is currently on loan with League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City until the end of the current campaign, which was scheduled to conclude last week.

However, the Candy Whites are waiting to discover if they can rearrange their game with Shamrock Rovers after it was called off last week due to the club’s entire squad being told to 'stand down' for a 14-day period following positive Covid-19 tests.

Regan Slater

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United allowed the 21-year-old midfielder to join League One side Hull City earlier this month on a season-long loan.

He has a plenty of admirers at the Lane and wherever his career takes him, will always be remembered for his thumping challenge that sent Ipswich's Bersant Celina flying a few years ago.

Slater has made four appearances and scored one goal since his move to the KCOM Stadium but was an unused substitute in the Tigers’ 2-1 defeat at Swindon Town on Saturday.

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