Loan Watch: Biereth scores on European debut

It took Mika Biereth just four minutes to score on his European debut for SK Sturm Graz on Thursday night.

Netting the opener in the UEFA Europa Conference League, Mika helped Sturm Graz to a 4-1 win at home to Slovan Bratislava in the first leg of the knockout round play-offs.

On the weekend, he got another 72 minutes in a 1-1 draw at home to Rapid Wien, leaving Sturm Graz second in the Austrian Bundesliga, two points behind Red Bull Salzburg.

In the Premier League, it was a successful weekend for Nuno Tavares as he helped Nottingham Forest to a clean sheet in their 2-0 win at home to West Ham United on Saturday.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are now 15th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.

Luton Town are just one point above 18th-placed Everton after their 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday, which Sambi Lokonga played 90 minutes of.

Sambi helped to keep the Hatters in the game though with an excellent last-ditch block to deny Bruno Fernandes from increasing United’s lead in the second half.

Last week was a good one for Arthur Okonkwo at Wrexham, who claimed a 2-1 win away to Sutton United before following it up with a 1-0 win at home to Notts County, Arthur making a number of key saves for the clean sheet.

Wrexham are now third in League Two, two points behind Mansfield Town and three behind Stockport County but with a game in hand on both teams.

Down in the Vanarama National League, there was late drama at Hayes Lane as Alex Kirk whipped in a 94th minute cross for Sam Woods to convert as Bromley came from 3-2 down to beat league leaders Chesterfield 4-3. The Spireites are still 20 points clear at the top though.

Overseas, Marquinhos made his debut for Fluminense on the weekend, coming on in the 80th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Madureira to remain top of Carioca Serie A with 21 points from nine games.

Back in the Football League, there was less to celebrate for our loanees in the Championship. For Swansea City, Charles Sagoe Jr came on in the 78th minute of Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at home to Leeds United, before Charlie Patino was introduced in the 63rd minute of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Ipswich Town.

Swansea are 18th in the division, four points above the relegation zone, but the situation is looking more precarious for Millwall, who are 21st and one point above the drop zone following Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to Sheffield Wednesday, which Brooke Norton-Cuffy played the second half of.

In League One, Khayon Edwards was able to celebrate his professional debut with a 4-3 win for Leyton Orient over Northampton Town on Tuesday night.

He then played 75 minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Burton Albion, leaving Orient ninth in League One, eight points off the play-off places.

Further down the table, Reading are 18th after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Portsmouth. Zane Monlouis was an unused substitute for that game but did come on in the 85th minute of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw away to Fleetwood Town.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand played 71 minutes of FC Den Bosch’s 0-0 draw at home to Jong AZ on Friday to go 18th in Eerste Divisie with 20 points.

In women's football, Kathrine Kuhl played 90 minutes of Everton's 2-0 win at home to West Ham United on Sunday, which sent the Toffees three point clear of the Hammers in ninth.

Last but not least, Giovana Queiroz got 90 minutes for Madrid CFF in their 2-1 win at home to Levante Las Planas on Sunday to remain fourth in Primera Division.

Katie Reid has returned from her loan spell at Watford and was on the bench for our 3-1 win against Manchester United.

Players who were unused substitutes:

• Catalin Cirjan - FC Rapid București

Players who weren’t included in match day squads:

• Kieran Tierney - Real Sociedad
• Omar Rekik - Servette
• Tyreece John-Jules - Derby County
• Kido Taylor-Hart - Bromley
• Brian Okonkwo - Leatherhead
• Billy Vigar - Eastbourne Borough

Players whose teams didn’t play last week:

• Michelle Agyemang, Laila Harbert - Watford Women
• Freya Godfrey - Charlton Athletic Women
• Ruby Doe - Ipswich Town Women

Image credit: Foto Atzler