Loan Watch: Fernandez's Preston bond

Monday 06 March 2023 09:04

Manchester United loanee Alvaro Fernandez has received praise from Preston defender Bambo Diaby, as the 19-year-old continues to make an impression at Deepdale.

Preston held Watford to a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road on Saturday, and Fernandez played all 90 minutes in his customary left wing-back role.

Diaby, who plays centre-back for the Lilywhites, has struck up a strong bond with Alvaro due to the pair both coming through the youth system in Spain.

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“He’s a very special guy, he’s like my little bro,” Diaby said of the United loanee to The Lancashire Post.

“You have to take care of everything that he does but he’s a very nice guy. I’m always with him because it’s easier for us to understand because we are Spanish.

“When we’re on the field, I think we play similar football because we started at academies in Spain, so we understand each other.”

Fernandez wasn’t the only one of our loanees who was in action over the weekend. Ethan Galbraith and Charlie McNeill came up against each other at the Peninsula Stadium, as Salford City hosted Newport Country in League Two.

Galbraith came out on top, with Salford emerging 3-1 winners. Both United loanees started the fixture, as the Ammies came from a goal behind against the visitors to take all three points, with McNeill substituted after 64 minutes and Galbraith following suit four minutes later.

Charlie Savage was recently named Forest Green Rovers’ Player of the Month for February, following his January switch to the League One outfit.

On Twitter, Savage said: “Thanks for all the support Forest Green Rovers fans, been an enjoyable first month at the club.”

Despite taking the lead away to Accrington on Saturday, the first-half dismissal of Oliver Casey helped turn the contest in the home side’s favour. Forest Green were defeated 2-1 on the day, but Savage got another 90 minutes under his belt in senior football.

Hannibal came off the bench in the second half of Birmingham City’s 1-1 draw away to Wigan Athletic. The Tunisia international joined the fray in place of former United man Tahith Chong on 69 minutes, as the Blues took a point from the trip to the relegation-threatened Latics.

Shola Shoretire also played a part in a draw, with the attacker starting Bolton Wanderers’ 0-0 stalemate with Morecambe. Shola appeared for 65 minutes before he was replaced by Elias Kachunga in the second half.

Rounding up our domestic loanees, Amad was on the receiving end in Sunderland’s 5-1 loss at home to Stoke City, while Axel Tuanzebe did not feature for the Potters in that match.

And finally, on the continent, Alex Telles was a second-half substitute during Sevilla’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid, while Matej Kovar played every minute as Sparta Prague beat Teplice comfortably 4-1 at home.

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