Antonio Cordero nightmare continues as Newcastle United loan star sees sacking hit transfer hope
Newcastle United loan watch as struggles continue
Newcastle United have nine players out on loan at professional clubs as they continue to try and develop their best young talent with match experience - as well as move on a number of fringe players.
While Eddie Howe's first team continue to struggle for consistency, some of the forgotten men from the squad are also enduring mixed fortunes out on their temporary spells around Europe.
While the Magpies are keen to get some of their talented youngsters more senior experience in a bid to make them ready for Howe's senior squad, the success so far this season has been minimal. We take a look at how the loan lads are faring.
Antonio Cordero
The Spaniard was signed from Malaga in the summer and immediately farmed out to Belgian side Westerlo. However, that proved to be an unmitigated failure and the 19-year-old was recalled before going back to Spain with Cadiz.
Cordero has fared a little better since his return to his homeland. After four appearances from the bench, he then started seven games in a row although failed to score. He was then dropped to the bench for the game against Mirandes.
However, he was recalled to the side for a home meeting with his old club Malaga in La Liga 2 on Saturday. That proved to be a false dawn, however, as Cordero was withdrawn at half time with Cadiz 2-0 down.
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It's fair to say the 19-year-old's career has stalled over the last 10 months. From a starter in La Liga 2 with Malaga last season, he is now back in the same division but as a bit-part player.
Odysseas Vlachodimos
Staying in Spain, goalkeeper Vlachodimos continues to impress in La Liga with Sevilla, although he was powerless to prevent his side slipping to another defeat at the weekend, this time going down 2-0 at home to Valencia.
That result meant just one La Liga win in their last eight matches and led to Sevilla parting company with manager Matias Almeyda. They are just three points above the relegation zone.
Vlachodimos has been a hit on his loan spell but there appears to be little interest from Howe & Co to bring him back to Tyneside, where he made only one substitute appearance last season after his role as part of the deal that took Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest.
There will be interest in the Greek international from around Europe, however. Sevilla want to keep the shot-stopper but know they face competition for his services as Vlachodimos' form helps Newcastle raise their asking price.
sporting director Antonio Cordo said: “We’d like to keep him. We’ll see, he’s very happy in the city. It’s a city that’s important for every player who comes here.
"Nobody wants to leave, and he certainly intends to stay, but we know his club knows he’s doing very well. There are big clubs in Europe that are also following him, and well, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Travis Hernes
The Norweigan midfielder was another to suffer a nightmare first half of the season. Sent out on loan to Dutch side Groningen, he failed to play a single minute before Christmas.
He was an unused substitute for their first six Eredivisie games after his arrival, but then didn't even make the bench. He finally made his debut as a substitute on
Hernes finally got a couple of starts under his belt, named in the starting XI for Groningen's two games against Ajax and PEC Swolle, playing just over an hour in both fixtures. However, he wasn't in the squad for Groningen's 3-0 home victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
Groningen have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer, but it remains to be seen if that will be activated with Hernes only featuring six times so far.
Trevan Sanusi
The winger remained on the bench as Lorient were beaten by Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday. It is the latest in a frustrating period for the winger, whose time in France has been blighted by injury.
An exciting talent, he was forced to wait until December for his debut after suffering an ankle injury and then picked up a knee injury after the new year.
The 18-year-old has made nine appearances in all competitions for Lorient.
Matt Targett
Targett's loan move to Middlesbrough has been an undoubted success and he continues to play a key role in their push for promotion. The left-back played 81 minutes in their goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship at the weekend.
Boro would like to make the player's move permanent in the summer but it may depend on what division they are in.
Harrison Ashby and Joe White
The arrival of the duo at Bradford City in the winter window has not gone as expected. Neither player was involved on Saturday as the Bantams were beaten by Burton Albion in League One, and they have barely featured at all since their loan moves.
Ashby is out of contract at Newcastle this summer and will leave the club. White has another 12 months left on his deal but has no future on Tyneside.
Charlie McArthur and Max Thompson
The defender played the full 90 minutes in Airdrieonians 3-1 defeat away to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship.
Thompson, meanwhile, was also in Scottish Championship action, featuring in goal for Ayr United. However, he couldn't stop them slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Greenock Morton.