When Chris Davies decided in the summer that Birmingham City didn’t need four of their loanees, they were sent to Leagues One and Two.
With 17 new players added over the summer, Blues boss Davies put together a strong team for League One. He didn’t have any quick plans for Tyler Roberts, Manny Longelo, Romelle Donovan, or George Hall, who all left the club on loan in August.
Roberts, Longelo, and Donovan all signed with teams in League One, while Hall moved to nearby Walsall, who are currently unbeaten in League Two and coached by former Blues back Mat Sadler.
Two and a half years ago, Roberts played for Leeds United in the Premier League, but Davies didn’t want to use him. It’s been a bad run for Northampton in League One this season. The forward has played five games and lost all of them. Roberts has only ever helped the Cobblers win one game, which was against Huddersfield Town in September.
Joe Longelo (Cambridge)
Longelo scores the most goals for Cambridge United. With two goals, Longelo is tied with two other Cambridge players at the top of their scoring charts after a dismal start to the League One season under ex-Blues boss Garry Monk.
The left-sider has been used in a more advanced role by Monk when he has been chosen to start. Longelo has started three League One games and come off the bench three times. His goals came in a Bristol Street Motors Trophy draw with Bromley and a league loss to Mansfield.
Romelle Donovan (Burton Albion)
Donovan impressed in Blues’ early pre-season games under Davies and the manager hopes the 17-year-old can carve out a career for himself at St Andrew’s. In late August the choice was taken to loan Donovan out and he has already accumulated more league minutes in five games for Burton than he did for Blues last season.
The England under-18 international has played once in League One and once in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy for a Burton side that hasn’t won yet this season.
Everyone connected with Blues is willing Hall to succeed at Walsall after a troublesome 12 months. Hall barely played for Blues last season due to a series of hamstring injuries and was loaned out to rebuild his career.
Hall explained his desire to play regularly in his first interview after joining Walsall but it hasn’t panned out that way. The 20-year-old has made just one start in League Two for the Saddlers and was removed before half-time in his second outing in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
“He took a heavy whack on his lower back which then sent everything into a little bit of a spasm,” said Saddlers boss Sadler. Hall hasn’t played in Walsall’s last five games as a result.
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