Loan watch: Bernard excels in Championship

It capped off a good week for the centre-back after he was nominated for Hull's October Player of the Month. Bernard spent last season at League Two side Salford City and impressed in his 30 appearances.

Playing even more regularly at Hull (65% of all available league minutes), Bernard has impressed in his ability to step up from the fourth tier to the second. Hull are currently sitting 23rd in the Championship - three points from safety.

The recently-turned 21-year-old spoke to Hull's club media last month, explaining the benefits of heading out on loan at different levels.

“A loan is what a young player needs,” Di'Shon began.

"I know everyone wants to jump straight into the first-team but people need to realise that it’s not always like that. You need to go on loan and learn your trade, which is what I’ve done.

“As a youngster, you need to go into the lower leagues and learn how to defend against strikers that might not be as good on the ball but can still beat you in other ways. I feel like the competition level is the same [as League Two], but it’s just the ability on the ball which is different.

“You know in the Championship that one mistake is going to be a goal because they’ve got the ability to put it away. It’s a step up from League Two, which is what I needed.”

Brandon Williams helped Norwich City to their first Premier League win of the season against Brentford, although the result couldn't save manager Daniel Farke from being relieved of his duties afterwards, with the Canaries still deep in relegation trouble.

Williams posted on social media: "An important win for the team, and a nice parting gift to a manager who believed in me."

Ethan Laird played the full game for Swansea City as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Championship table-toppers Bournemouth. James Garner came off the bench for Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win against Preston North End, while Facundo Pellistri played 59 minutes for Deportivo Alaves in their 2-1 win against Levante.

Tahith Chong has returned to the club after suffering a groin injury while on loan at Birmingham City. The Curacao-born midfielder had been in fine form in the Midlands, impressing fans as much as manager Lee Bowyer. United confirmed last Wednesday that Tahith has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured thigh tendon. The operation went successfully and he will continue rehabilitation at United over the next four or five months.

A couple of young Reds were in action in the FA Cup first round, with Ethan Galbraith turning out for Doncaster Rovers in a 1-0 away win against Scunthorpe. He also played against Crewe in a 1-1 draw earlier in the week and now heads to Northern Ireland for international duty with the senior squad there.

"I think he deserves it," Wellens told the Doncaster Free Press. "I think he's been excellent. I am sure he will go on to have a really good international career for the next 10 to 15 years and also a great club career as well.

"We have no doubt that he's going to be a really good player. He deserves this and we're really happy for him. It is good that he keeps developing."

See more from Wellens on Galbraith's development here.

Goalkeeper Nathan Bishop was also in Cup action as he kept a clean sheet against Sunderland. Mansfield progressed to the second round with a fine 1-0 away win at the Stadium of Light.

Over in Brazil, Andreas Pereira played twice this week for Flamengo, starting in a 2-2 draw with Atletico Paranaense and a 2-0 win against Atletico Goianiense.