Leeds United sent 11 players out on loan in the summer transfer window.
While the majority were members of last season’s first team squad looking for an exit route after relegation, some of them were youngsters in need of regular game time.
Sonny Perkins was one of those to secure himself a loan switch in search of proper senior football for the first time in his career, as he made the move to promotion chasing Oxford United.
However, it is fair to say it has not gone to plan in the slightest. Perkins has played just five minutes of League One football at Oxford, three of which came back in September.
Clearly former boss Liam Manning did not fancy him, but following his move to Bristol City, and a goal against Chelsea U21s in the EFL Trophy, there was hope he could turn it around.
Perkins wasting development at Oxford
Oxford went fairly left-field in their next managerial appointment after Manning, bringing in 38-year-old Des Buckingham, who has been in charge for three matches in all competitions.
Buckingham actually handed Perkins his first two minutes of league football since September in a 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town in his opening match in charge, but has not been seen since.
Perkins was even completely left out of the squad for the FA Cup tie against Grimsby Town on Saturday, which you would’ve thought could have been a chance for him to stake a claim.
But it is now clear that Perkins just isn’t going to get the football he needs at Oxford, and so Leeds simply have to recall him in January and send him to another club, even if it is a lower level.
Perkins has always looked talented in each of his first team appearances for Leeds, and it is a shame to see it going to waste at the moment.
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