It has not been a good start to the season for Leeds United. The club sit in the relegation zone in the Premier League, and there is little joy coming from those out on loan – and Leeds need to make a decision on three players in January:
Lewis Bate (Oxford United)
When Bate joined Leeds from Chelsea for a fee of £1.5million, there was real hype surrounding the midfielder. The 19-year-old was a regular for the second string, and even started against Chelsea – managing four senior appearances.
But with the 21’s relegated to the second tier of PL2, Bate decided to move on loan. He joined third-tier side Oxford United – but things are not going to plan. Of Oxford’s 18 games in all competitions, Bate has started just eight games.
Only four league starts in 13 games. Bate has been an unused substitute on four occasions. Bate has gone from being a player with enormous first-team potential at Leeds, to another Alfie McCalmont. He needs a new loan in January.
Ian Poveda (Blackpool)
Regularly used by Marcelo Bielsa, who once branded Poveda as “agile”, Poveda suffered a broken leg last season at Blackburn. He was not taken on the tour of Australia by Jesse Marsch, and has since joined Blackpool on loan.
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Already expected to leave Leeds permanently, his time at Blackpool is not going to plan, either. Available for 11 of Blackpool’s 16 Championship games since joining, Poveda has managed just three starts. Just 245 minutes of action.
Since starting a defeat to Norwich on October 1, Poveda has managed just 15 minutes of football. Remaining an unused sub in three of the next five games, he has come on as a sub twice. Perhaps, dropping a division will help.
Jack Jenkins (Salford City)
But by far the worst of Leeds United’s 10 loan spells away from the club this summer, has been 20-year-old Jenkins. The midfielder is renowned for making his debut in the dismal defeat to Crawley Town in the FA Cup, under Bielsa.
A regular n the 21’s with 45 appearances for the second string, Jenkins’ loan at Salford has been woeful. Playing for a side co-owned by the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, Jenkins is yet to make a league appearance.
He has not played a single minute for Salford in the league, remaining an unused sub in 10 games. His only three outings have come in the EFL Trophy. He, like Poveda and Bate, need a new loan deal in January.
