With the Reds not in action this weekend, we take a look at some of our players who have been impressing away from Oakwell in recent weeks, as they enjoy loan spells at various clubs throughout the football pyramid. Kacper Lopata has been ever present for Ross County since his arrival on deadline day. The Reds defender has featured for the Scottish Premiership club on five occasions this season, with the side sitting comfortably in mid-table in the Scottish top flight heading into the international break. Most recently, Lopata featured for the full ninety minutes in a battling 2-1 home defeat to league leaders Celtic. Andrew Dallas impressed for League Two side Barrow last weekend, with the Scottish forward coming off the bench to score an 86th minute winner at home against Cheltenham Town, with his first goal for the Cumbrian outfit. This was Dallas’ fifth appearance for Barrow, who have impressed this season and currently sit in 3rd place in League Two, ahead of their home match with Morecambe on Saturday afternoon. Goalkeeper Jackson Smith arrived at Grimsby Town at the beginning of this month on an emergency loan, which was extended by an additional week last week, putting him in contention for their away tie at Salford tomorrow afternoon. In his time at Blundell Park, Smith has been ever-present, playing the full ninety minutes in Grimsby’s fixtures against Gillingham and Doncaster, keeping a clean sheet in the former as the Mariners secured a momentous victory to keep them in contention for the League Two play-off spots. Jack Shepherd has also had an incredibly impressive spell on loan at Bradford City. The young defender has featured eleven times in all competitions for the Bantams, who sit just one point outside the top six in League Two. Jack earned plaudits earlier this month, when he managed to produce an 88th minute equaliser to secure a crucial point away at Morecambe. Shepherd will be looking to get more minutes on the board in Bradford's next game, which sees them travel to Prenton Park on Saturday to face Tranmere Rovers. Looking towards our U21 setup, Charlie Hickingbottom has featured twelve times for Mickleover Sports this season. The defender has featured for the full 90 minutes in the Derbyshire side’s last five games, as they sit comfortably in mid-table in the Northern Premier League, ahead of their home tie with Hyde United this Saturday. Rogan Ravenhill has also featured twelve times this season in the Northern Premier League, between the sticks for Matlock Town,. The young Reds’ stopper even managed to get on the scoresheet with a 96th minute equaliser away at Lancaster City back in August, to secure a vital point as the Derbyshire side look to stay up in the division. Ravenhill will be looking to feature again tomorrow, as Matlock travel to the north-east to face Hebburn. Forward Leo Farrell, who featured on the bench for the Reds earlier this season in their EFL Cup first round tie with Wigan, has also impressed whilst on loan at fellow Northern Premier League side Guiseley. Farrell has scored six goals in nine games in all competitions this season for the West Yorkshire outfit, although he has not featured since coming off with injury in their FA Cup third qualifying round victory over National League North side Scunthorpe United at the end of last month. Reds’ U18 forward Feyi Afuape has also spent time on loan with Guiseley, arriving at the start of October on a one-month loan, featuring twice in all competitions as the West Yorkshire side as they look to consolidate their place in the Northern Premier League play-offs. Continue reading...
