With defender Duncan Idehen having returned to Bristol City, it means that United currently have four loan slots filled with Fin Back [Forest], Ben Barclay [Stockport], Sonny Hilton [Fulham] and Jack Stretton [Derby] currently heading for the halfway point of their season-long deals.
Speaking about the players today, manager Paul Simpson said: “That’s something we continue to monitor with each of them.
“As we saw with Duncan Idehen, if a player isn’t happy I won’t make that situation worse for him, and I acknowledge that most players just want to be playing. I won’t ever criticise that.
“We know the situation with Fin, and we know that the most important thing there is for him to get fit and going again. We’ll continue to monitor that with Forest and see where we go and what’s decided that’s best.
“Sonny [Hilton] and Ben [Barclay] haven’t had as much game time as they want, but they’ve both been hampered by injuries. Sonny was excellent at Newport and so unlucky that his ankle went down there. Ben has also been really unlucky.
“Jack Stretton is happy here and his parent club don’t expect to have to take him back at this stage, but their circumstances could change and we find that he's suddenly needed at Derby, be that to cover an injury crisis or whatever.
“With every loan player there’s an element of risk because they all come with that recall option during the winter window. If any of them tell their clubs that they aren’t happy, that can change things as well, so again, let’s wait and see.”
Currently out at other clubs are Lewis Bell [Gretna], Sam Fishburn [Morpeth] and Max Kilsby [Annan].
“We’re speaking to Annan and Gretna at the moment about that and, of course, Sam is on season long deal with Morpeth as well,” he told us. “If everybody’s in agreement the chances are they will stay out, to keep getting match minutes and performing at senior level.
“We monitor them all the time anyway, just to see how they’re’ doing. They train with us virtually every day so we’re seeing how they’re developing. If the situation’s right for them to stay out that’s what they’ll do.”
