To gain valuable experience, insight and a feel for the rigours of the professional game, Premier League clubs will routinely send their young players out on loan to clubs across the EFL. Many of them will end up dropping down the pyramid permanently, whereas others may have progressed sufficiently and will make a bid for first-team experience. West Ham are always happy to let their most prodigious talents leave East London temporarily with Conor Coventry, Nathan Trott, Mipo Odubeko and Thierry Nevers having all gained vital minutes elsewhere recently.
Another batch of gifted youngsters have exited the London Stadium during the 2024-25 campaign, making their way to various outposts around the UK. We’ve looked at how three of them have performed during the first half of the season, and whether they have positively impacted the form of their temporary employers.
Callum Marshall – Huddersfield
Following the disappointment of playing just 55 minutes for West Brom at the end of last season, the Northern Irishman opted to drop down a division and join recently relegated Huddersfield in League One.
The Terriers have enjoyed a tremendous start to the season, and they went into 2025 as legitimate automatic promotion contenders. Under Michael Duff, the West Yorkshire team are unbeaten since October 1st and Marshall has contributed six goals so far. The January arrival of Joe Taylor has the potential to limit the 20-year-old’s minutes, however, having managed to fire in more shots on target than any of his team-mates, he may be given the nod to play alongside Huddersfield’s latest recruit.
Marshall may still be a little bit raw and inexperienced, yet he is full of endeavour and is averaging 1.28 efforts on target per match. As the club’s joint-highest goalscorer, he is highly likely to be maintained for the remainder of the season. He may also be granted a second crack at the Championship next year.
Freddie Potts – Portsmouth
This is Freddie Potts’ second EFL loan spot following a successful spell at Wycombe last season. He was awarded Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season for the 2023-24 campaign having won the most tackles and made the most interceptions across the course of the year for the Chairboys.
The 21-year-old has now moved up a notch and finds himself battling for Championship survival with Portsmouth. Although it took him a few games to find his feet in the second tier, Potts has become a regular under John Mousinho making 18 starts for Pompey so far. Although his attacking output isn’t considered to be his primary asset, he has contributed two assists and has also got himself onto the scoresheet.
Only two Portsmouth players have completed more passes than Potts and the son of Hammers’ coach Steve, has won 24 tackles and made 25 blocks so far. If you combine the two, he is leading the charge ahead of Zak Swanson and Connor Ogilvie.
The loanee will be hoping to lead his temporary employers to safety this season. In August, the Hampshire outfit were priced up as the favourites for the drop by the majority of the bookmakers, yet they’ve become particularly tough to beat at Fratton Park and are willing to scrap for every point.
Patrick Kelly – Doncaster
According to the pre-season odds, Doncaster were one of the favourites for promotion from League Two and although there have been a few fluctuations in their form, they are still firmly in contention at the top of the table.
When it comes to outright betting, the top end of League Two tends to be popular with punters as there are three automatic spots up for grabs. As well as generous sportsbook bonuses and in-play opportunities, most bookmakers will allow bettors to create pre-season accumulators and the South Yorkshire club were likely to be included in many of these potentially lucrative multiples.
Unfortunately, Doncaster have lacked a clinical striker with loanee Patrick Kelly contributing just a single goal so far. Luke Molyneux, a midfielder by trade, is the club’s joint-top goalscorer, alongside the veteran Billy Sharp and their lack of potency up front has probably prevented them from breaking into the top three.
Kelly has made just 11 starts so far with his most complete performance coming in the 3-1 victory over Tranmere back in December. He got himself onto the scoresheet that day and earned a standing ovation upon his exit.
He was also praised by his boss Grant McCann, a fellow Northern Irishman, for ‘training like a demon’ and despite his lack of firepower, he is evidently working hard to make an impression at the Keepmoat Stadium.
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Obviously this is part one. How about Earthy? How is he doing.
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