Following the conclusion of the 22/23 season, we can now confirm the following loan players have returned to their parent clubs.
Matty Daly & Danny Grant (Huddersfield Town)
Tom Eastman (Colchester)
Kazeem Olaigbe (Southampton)
Matty Foulds (Bradford City)
We would like to place on record our thanks to them for their efforts and contributions over the course of the campaign.
Matty Daly
Midfielder Matty Daly joined on loan from Huddersfield Town during the summer transfer window. During his time in the yellow & black Daly registered 39 appearances, scoring eight times and registering three assists.
Simon Weaver praised the development which the 22-year-old has made over the course of the campaign.
He said: “Matty has had some great moments on the pitch for us, he has really grown into his loan over the course of this season. Withstanding the injury he sustained, that put him back when he was on fire.
“I thought he was really unlucky to pick up that injury when he did. However, he did grow in stature around the dressing room, I rate him highly as a guy as well as on the pitch.
“He leaves with a good haul of goals and I think there is so much more to come from him.”
Danny Grant
Republic of Ireland U21 international Danny Grant joined the club at the end of the summer transfer window on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town.
In this time he has made 28 appearances, tallying three assists. His only goal for the club came in the Papa Johns Trophy against Everton U21's.
Simon Weaver praised the skill-set of the departing winger.
He said: “Danny is a really exciting prospect and he is a real threat on that left wing. He cuts in well, he has a good engine as well as several other good attributes as a winger.
“It is unfortunate that we haven’t seen as much of him recently, due to injury, but he made some important contributions for us this season and we wish him well.”
Matty Foulds
Left-back Matty Foulds joined us from Yorkshire rivals Bradford City on a six-month loan in January. In this time, the ever-present defender has featured heavily in a resolute defense.
Simon Weaver hailed the 25-year-old's consistency.
He said: “Fouldsy is an old head on young shoulders. He has been fantastic for us, game in and game out he has been very consistent in the back line.
“His attitude has been outstanding from the moment he came in and the consistency with that has been great. His distribution from left-back and decision making has been very mature.”
Tom Eastman
Defender Tom Eastman joined the club on loan from Colchester United, after forming a tight partnership with Anthony O'Connor the 31-year-old quickly became a favourite of the Town faithful.
His only goal for the club came in our 2-2 draw with Doncaster last month.
Simon Weaver said: “We were hoping he would make a good impact and he has certainly done that. Alongside Anthony O’Connor, the pair combined well and watching them play you can see the pair are uncompromising defenders.
“They are both good footballers as well but in terms of his loan it’s been a massive success.”
Kazeem Olaigbe
After spending the first-half of the season on loan with Ross County, winger Kazeem Olaigbe joined the club on deadline day of the January transfer window.
In this time, the Belgian U19 international has excited fans and staff alike with four goals and five assists in his 19 appearances.
Simon Weaver has praised the character of our departing number 10.
He said: “The ambition from myself and the rest of the recruitment team is always to have a player on the pitch who can excite the supporters.
“We want our players to entertain both the fans and us on the sidelines. In big games, Kazeem has stepped up. We have been in a dog fight but he has shown he can do it on that scale.
“In terms of him, maturing both as a player and as a person, I think this has been a great experience for him.”