Sheffield United loan watch: Rhys Norrington-Davies stars in Luton Town win over Sheffield Wednesday and young Blade scores in FA Cup rout

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

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 sluggish start to their league campaign and earlier this month replaced coach Sabri Lamouchi with former Brighton and Hove Albion boss, Chris Hughton.

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 was ineffective in the 1-1 draw with Rotherham United last Tuesday night and was an unused substitute in Forest’s 1-1 draw with East Midlands rivals Derby County on Friday evening.

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 earlier this month.

And the Wales under-21 international left-back was back in the Steel City on Saturday when he was part of Nathan Jones’ side which inflicted a 1-0 victory on basement side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. In fact, the young full-back very nearly made himself a name with Unitedites when his dinked shot clipped the bar late on in the game.

The win moved Luton up to ninth place in the Championship table.

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 could return to action in the next few weeks.

David Parkhouse

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

Parkhouse, who has yet to make a first-team appearance for United, celebrated his 21st birthday in style by scoring in Pools’ 6-0 win over Ilkeston Town to book their place in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.

He came on as a second half substitute and, in giving him a match rating of seven out of 10, Dominic Scurr, of the Hartlepool Mail, wrote of Parkhouse’s performance: “Grabbed a goal on his birthday with a clinical finish.”

Tyler Smith

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

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 due to the Robins’ game at local rivals Oxford United being postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak within the Swindon squad.

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 returned to the bench for Carlisle’s 1-1 draw at Grimsby Towm on Saturday after being left out of the matchday 18 for the game at Oldham Athletic in midweek.

Ismaila Coulibaly

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 but failed to find the net in his side’s 3-2 defeat at Antwerp yesterday.

Stephen Mallon

The Blades’ under-23 winger is currently on loan with League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City and made a substitute appearance in the Candy Stripes 2-0 win over Shelbourne on Friday evening. Mallon will remain with Derry until the end of the current campaign, which finishes this week.

Regan Slater

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 three appearances since his move to the KCOM Stadium but was an unused substitute in the Tigers’ 2-1 home defeat to Peterborough United on Saturday.

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