Sheffield United man forced to make untimely transfer return as highs and lows of football hit for Blades
Sheffield United man forced to make untimely transfer return as highs and lows of football hit for Blades' fringe men
Life out on loan for a young player can be about dealing with the inevitable highs and lows as much as any other experience - and Sheffield United man Louie Marsh has certainly felt that in recent weeks. The talented Blade moved north of the border to Falkirk midway through the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old’s pathway to the United first team had become blocked up again and the decision was taken for him to continue his footballing development elsewhere, with his debut for the Scottish Premiership side coming in a cup tie against Celtic at Falkirk Stadium.
He subsequently scored his first goal for the Bairns to help them to victory at Livingston in early February but has now returned to United for treatment on a thigh injury that could keep him out for at least six weeks.
The news came before Falkirk’s weekend hammering of Kilmarnock which all-but secured their top six spot this season, with hopes that Marsh could return for the final throes of the Scottish season.
“Louie picked up a thigh injury on Monday in training,” said boss John McGlynn. “He got a scan yesterday and it wasn't good news. He’s going to go back to Sheffield United now and do his rehabilitation there.
Sheffield United man forced to make untimely transfer return as highs and lows of football hit for Blades' fringe men
“They think it could be between six and eight weeks, so he might get back for the latter stages of the league. So it is a blow because he started here very, very well. With Ben Parkinson being out, it means two of the newest players that we brought in are now not available. Everyone seems to have their troubles with regards to injuries and we have them as well.”
A time out on loan is working out better for Marsh’s young Blades teammate Ryan One, who scored his third goal for Lincoln City as they hammered Blackpool 4-0 on Saturday with a performance boss Michael Skubala described as their best so far this season.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Ivo Grbic made his latest appearance for Turkish top flight bottom side Fatih Karagumruk in their 3-1 defeat to Trabzonspor on Friday while Nils Zatterstrom has not got off the bench for Genoa since making his debut as an 89th-minute substitute against Bologna towards the end of January.
Defender Jamal Baptiste helped Rotherham United secure a big three points at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday while Sam Curtis continues to impress in League Two with Chesterfield. Ehuje Ukaki has played four times for Atromitos since moving there on loan in January.
United have a dedicated loan manager who is tasked with keeping tabs on all the Blades’ players who have been dispatched elsewhere, with Kenny Black frequently reporting to boss Chris Wilder and his coaching staff on how their players are getting on.
“We keep an interest in all our players,” Wilder said recently. “Regardless of whether they’re here or they’re out on loan. Resources have improved now. In my day I went out on loan a couple of times and United still kept interest in me.
“But there wasn’t someone who went and physically watched you all the time, or the technology. There was feedback but now we have eyes on them and we can do that with the games covered on TV or whatever.
“We were delighted that Marshy made an impact earlier on and Ryan’s finish recently was a fabulous one. We want all our boys to do well, regardless of whether they’re here [in the UK] or they’re abroad.”