EFL Loan Report Week 3

 

Embed from Getty Images

Jaden Philogene-Bidace (left) in action for Cardiff City

Every year young players from Premier League sides join teams across the EFL in search of development and game time. In this series we'll highlight a few key performances each week. 

Sunderland's Ellis Simms has been in good form since signing on loan from Everton. The prolific striker scored 13 goals during loans at Blackpool and Hearts last season and has scored 3 goals in the Championship so far this season. He scored his 3rd, a scrappy toe poke past Seny Dieng, on Saturday as Sunderland were held to a 2-2 draw by QPR. 

Arriving late at the back post, Jaden Philogene-Bidace scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 1-0 win vs Birmingham. The England u20 international spent the second half of last season on loan at fellow Championship club Stoke City where he made 11 appearances and scored 1 goal. Aston Villa will be hoping that with some experience under his belt, Philogene-Bidace will be able to establish himself as a regular starter for Cardiff. 

Also on-loan from Aston Villa, Finn Azaz scored again as Plymouth Argyle beat promotion-hopefuls Peterborough United 2-0. Having spent last season on loan in League 2 with Newport County, a League 1 loan move has followed for Azaz and it looks like Aston Villa will be managing his development slowly. 

James Trafford kept a clean sheet as Bolton Wanderers drew 0-0 with newly-promoted Port Vale. Trafford spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton and rejoined them ahead of the new season.