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Loan Watch: Lokonga assists Luton to huge win

Sambi celeb

It’s been a fantastic festive period for Sambi Lokonga and Luton Town, who have six points from their last two games.

The Hatters secured a 1-0 win at home to Newcastle United on Saturday, Sambi playing 80 minutes of the match, before coming from 2-1 down to win 3-2 in a huge game away to Sheffield United on Tuesday.

Sambi got the assist for Alfie Doughty’s opening goal of the game, and Rob Edwards’ side are now 18th in the Premier League, one point behind Everton.

In Spain’s topflight, Real Sociedad are sixth in La Liga, occupying the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying spot, after Thursday’s 0-0 draw away to Cadiz CF.

Kieran Tierney was part of the Sociedad defence that kept a clean sheet for that point.

Returning attention to our loanees in England, Brooke Norton-Cuffy enjoyed 158 minutes of football across Millwall’s 0-0 draw at Stoke City and 2-0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers.

The Lions are 20th in the Championship, one point above the relegation zone and two shy of Swansea City, who lost 5-0 at Southampton on Tuesday, Charlie Patino coming on in the 59th minute for the away side.

Elsewhere on the British Isles, Motherwell are now 11th in the Scottish Premiership, five points ahead of bottom-placed Livingston, after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Rangers, which Mika Biereth played 90 minutes of.

Overseas, Catalin Cirjan played 90 minutes of FC Rapid Bucuresti’s 0-0 draw away to Farul on Wednesday to go fourth in the Romanian SuperLiga, ten points behind leaders FCSB.

Back in the Football League, it was a great week for Arthur Okonkwo at Wrexham, as he kept back-to-back clean sheets in wins against Newport County (2-0) and Swindon Town (1-0).

Wrexham are second in League Two, four points behind Stockport County but with a game in hand.

In the Vanarama National League, Bromley drew 2-2 at home to Altrincham and won 3-2 away to Ebbsfleet United over the Christmas period to go second in the table, seven points behind leaders Chesterfield. Alex Kirk played 90 minutes of both fixtures.

Down in the National League South, Billy Vigar played all of Eastbourne Borough’s defeats to Yeovil Town (1-0) and Worthing (3-0). Eastbourne are 21st in the division with 23 points.

Players who were unused substitutes:

  • Nuno Tavares - Nottingham Forest
  • Alex Runarsson - Cardiff City
  • Marquinhos - Nantes

Players who weren’t included in match day squads:

  • Omar Rekik - Wigan Athletic
  • Mauro Bandeira - Colchester United
  • Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand - FC Den Bosch
  • Brian Okonkwo - Leatherhead
  • Kido Taylor-Hart - Bromley

Players whose teams didn’t play last week:

  • Kaylan Marckese - Bristol City Women
  • Laila Harbert, Michelle Agyemang, Katie Reid - Watford Women
  • Araya Dennis - Crystal Palace Women
  • Freya Godfrey - Charlton Athletic Women
  • Ruby Doe - Ipswich Town Women
  • Henry Jeffcott - Derby County under-21s