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Welcome back, Hammers! It’s been quite the week for our loaned players, some of whom are still getting acclimated to their new teams, and some of whom are in the regular lineups and should be for the rest of the season barring any injuries. Exciting news about Jaanai Gordon this week, who may soon be eyeing a starting role for League One outfit Newport County!
If you would like to get caught up on who some of our loanees are, you can always catch up with them on The West Ham Loanee Index.
Joshua Cullen — Bradford City (League One)
We covered briefly Josh Cullen’s game on January 28th in our last edition, pointing out that he made the League One Team of the Day because of his performance, but we didn’t mention that he got an assist in that match!
#BCAFC #BCAFCGOALS
— BCAFCGOALS (@bcafcgoals) January 29, 2017
Great header by @romain_vincelot from @JoshCullen8's cross to open his account for City and bag our 35th league goal! pic.twitter.com/Myti6HuD6t
Bradford City are on quite the tear this season, only losing two of their last eleven matches. While they’ve had more than a few draws, they’re still pushing for promotion, and very well could see themselves in the Championship next season. Our man Cullen is a huge part of that as he has been playing impeccably for the Bantams.
Cullen played 80 minutes in Bradford City’s latest draw against Gillingham on February 4th, but it doesn’t seem that he made much of an impact.
First time josh Cullen has ever disappointed me, I'm gutted
— JakeyD (@JakeDawson8) February 4, 2017
Even though Josh didn’t perform particularly well in the latest match, he still managed to win the Social Media Player of the Month for January from Bradford City’s fans.
The Social Media Player of the Month for January with 54% of the vote is @JoshCullen8. Well done Josh!#BCAFC pic.twitter.com/2NuugLTjTN
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) February 7, 2017
This final tweet isn’t exactly related to Josh Cullen’s play, but he’s even got Bradford City supporters making illustrations of him!
@JoshCullen8 #illustration #bcafc #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/qrRZ2QFd91
— Mik Seery (@MikSeery) February 9, 2017
Toni Martinez — Oxford United (League One)
In our last edition, we covered Toni’s goal against Newcastle United, but here it is again in case you’ve missed it.
TONI MARTINEZ!! pic.twitter.com/F8QX18zCd6
— WHUFC Fans Corner (@WHUFCFansCorner) January 28, 2017
Toni started in Oxford United’s latest match on February 5th, but he didn’t score any goals and was subbed off in the 80’.
Martin Samuelsen — Peterborough United (League One)
After his unsuccessful stint with Blackburn Rovers, Martin Samuelsen has gotten plugged back in with his old loanee club, Peterborough United, and has played in all of their last five matches since January, but not with much luck as he’s only averaging 46 minutes a match.
Martin Samuelsen is a bench warmer in League One. How sad is that?
— NorwayFoot (@NorwayFoot) February 4, 2017
Samuelsen’s starts for Peterborough United have been few and far between.
It’s no secret that Samuelsen is a very technically talented player, but when he’s played substantial minutes in the last five games, Peterborough United have lost. This could be coincidence, or it could be a trend. Time will tell.
George Dobson — Walsall FC (League One)
Since the start of January, George Dobson has averaged only ten minutes a match for Walsall. It looks like he’s been phased out of the starting lineup as the League One outfit picked up a couple of players in the January transfer window.
In the most recent match, a win against Northampton Town on 4th February, George played eleven minutes at the end of the match and didn’t make much of an impact.
Sam Ford — Bishop’s Stortford (National League South)
Sam Ford last played in Bishop’s Stortford’s 4-1 loss at Hampton & Richmond, playing 64 minutes and scoring no goals.
Sam Howes — Hampton & Richmond (National League South)
Sam Howes looks to now be Hampton & Richmond’s first choice ‘keeper, as he’s played the full 90 minutes in their last two matches, draws against Gosport Borough and Eastbourne Borough. No clean sheets for the youngster yet, but at least he’s helping to make sure that his club gets at least one point!
Jaanai Gordon — Newport County (League Two)
Things are looking up for our man Jaanai (still not a typo), as he’s eyeing a starting role for Newport County with his first ever English-league goal in NCAFC’s draw against Cheltenham Town!
Super sub Jaanai Gordon rescues a point for Exiles https://t.co/2z7sksQQde
— Newport County Trust (@ncfctrust) February 5, 2017
Jaanai came on for Newport County in the 68’, and got right to work. A beautiful assist from Josh Sheehan put the ball right where Jaanai could push it toward goal, and our man scored in the 90’+3 to stave off relegation for Newport County.
Jaanai also scored two goals in a win for the Newport County reserves on February 6th.
The #NCAFC reserves beat @OfficialECFC 3-0 in the Central League today. Goals from @J_Gordz (2) & @Mickeyd_09 sealing the win for County.
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) February 6, 2017
Alex Pike — Cheltenham Town (League Two)
Alex Pike last played for Cheltenham Town on January 28th, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Crewe Alexandra.
Also, happy belated birthday to the defender, who turned 20 years old on February 8th!
Młody defensor Młotów Alex Pike, który przebywa na wypożyczeniu w Cheltenham Town obchodzi dziś swoje 20 urodziny. pic.twitter.com/mAXgguLvBw
— Piotrek Świtalski (@slepson91) February 8, 2017
DID NOT PLAY (DNP):
- Enner Valencia
- Reece Burke
- Reece Oxford
- Marcus Browne
- Kyle Knoyle
- Josh Pask
- Stephen Hendrie (may now be part of Blackburn Rovers’ Academy?)
- Luka Belic (no longer with West Ham United)