See we now have 3 young players out on loan; Paton at Brechin and S. Smith and McVitie at Peterheid. Loaning out players to lower division teams should be a great way to bring our young lads on, ala Willie Miller and Peterheid back in the day. Why is it though that when we loan younsters out, it usually means they are getting released in the next 6 months? Seems to be a policy of only shipping them out if they arent going to make the grade.

 

Who was the last youth to get loaned out and actually come back and make an impact on the team?

See we now have 3 young players out on loan; Paton at Brechin and S. Smith and McVitie at Peterheid. Loaning out players to lower division teams should be a great way to bring our young lads on, ala Willie Miller and Peterheid back in the day. Why is it though that when we loan younsters out, it usually means they are getting released in the next 6 months? Seems to be a policy of only shipping them out if they arent going to make the grade.

 

Who was the last youth to get loaned out and actually come back and make an impact on the team?

 

Although he would not have been regarded as a youth at the time, Darren Mackie?

When most of these youngsters have been loaned out in recent times it has merely preceded them signing for that club at the end of the season. I'd be surprised if we see any of these loons back. particularly given JCs record in bringing youngsters through from the youth ranks at pittodrie

On the plus side, it's one Smith oot the door. It was all getting a bit confusing.

I wouldn't read too much into this, we have players to come back from injury and with a 24-man first team squad, we need the reserves to keep our fringe players' fitness up in the run-in to the season and as a result these young lads aren't going to see much action in the reserves so it's a good idea to get them out and playing every week.  Can only be a good thing really.  If they do well then great, but if they don't then they're probably not good enough for our first team so we should let them go.

Be disappointed if that was the case with these lads why go to the time and effort of loaning them out if it's not for the clubs benefit.