LOAN IMPROVEMENT?

With an estimated 62 first-team players on the books, Rafa has loaned out around a third of the squad this season. With a shortage of reserve-team action, added competition and a more settled first-team squad, many players will now get some valuable regular action at other clubs. Let's assess how the loaners have done and their prospects of a long-term future at the club.

Ratings: *Leighton Maxwell, **John Walsh, ***David Thompson, ****Neil Mellor, *****Danny Murphy.

GOALKEEPERS
David Martin (Leicester) The 23-year old keeper was receiving rave reviews as he made seven clean sheets in 25 appearances until he was injured in February against Swindon. *

Peter Gulacsi (Hereford United) The teenage Hungarian stopper has appeared 13 times for the League One strugglers and has had plenty of practice. His only clean sheet came against Leeds United, where his man-of-the match display included a penalty save. ***

Nikolai Mihalyov (FC Twente) The Bulgarian U-21 goalie has recently been promoted to the first 11 by former England boss Steve McClaren. He has performed well in 5 appearances in a Twente side on an 18 match unbeaten run in the Eredivisie. He also featured in the Champions league qualifier defeat versus Arsenal at the Emirates back in August. **

DEFENDERS
Jack Hobbs (Leicester) The 20-year old centre half's impressive displays has been at the heart of a Leicester City side who have led League One throughout. The Foxes' manager has now signed Hobbs on a permanent basis.

Robbie Threlfall (Hereford and Stockport) Following his spell at Hereford last season, the Liverpudlian left-back returned there and failed to get regular opportunities with the League One strugglers and later moved to Stockport for a month and played twice. The 20-year old has dropped way down the pecking order following the emergence of (the younger) Emiliano Insua and will probably leave the club.

MIDFIELDERS
Adam Hammill (Blackpool and Barnsley) The 21-year old winger began the season at Championship side Blackpool making 18 appearances, scoring once and making two assists. In January, he then moved across the Pennines to fellow strugglers Barnsley. Hammill has started just four games for the Tykes, he made a great assist in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Watford. **

Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest) The 20-year old winger has made 25 starts in a Nottingham Forest side fighting for Championship survival. He has been a regular in the side despite injury problems, scoring goals against both Plymouth and Norwich. *

Sebastian Leto (Olympiakos) The young Argentine winger failed to secure a UK work visa and was farmed out to the Greek champions to gain valuable experience. Despite being a regular and scoring a few spectacular goals, Leto has fallen out of favour with their Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde who accused the winger of repeated breaches of discipline. Any return for the Argentine would be subject to a successfu; visa application which would based upon his stalling international career. **

STRIKERS
Andriy Voronin (Hertha Berlin) The ponytailed Ukrainian has raised eyebrows with his goalscoring exploits in the German capital with 11 goals in 20 games. Any permanent move to Hertha would be dependent on the debt-ridden club's qualification to the Champions' League. Voronin turns 30 in July and many have pointed he could have proved an able deputy following the departure of Keane and a series of injuries to Torres. However it seems as though Benitez will look to cash in on his successes in Germany to fund a replacement. **

Craig Lindfield (Bournemouth and Accrington Stanley) Following an initial loan spell on the south coast with limited playing opportunities, the Wirral-born striker moved to Accrington where he has scored twice from 13 starts.