Nuno Tavares comeback, Karl Hein heartache, fresh injury blow - Arsenal loan latest
It was a decent week for Arsenal youngster Maldini Kacurri as the teenager made his full debut for League Two side Bromley.
The 19-year-old centre-back joined the south London side on loan for the rest of the season on deadline day. The defender was thrown straight into the action just over 24 hours later as he started in Bromley's 3-3 draw with Salford.
Kacurri played 78 minutes and his side were 3-2 up when he made way. Speaking after the game, Bromley boss Andy Woodman appeared to be satisfied with how the loanee performed.
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“With Callum (Reynolds) heading out the door, we wanted to bring a centre-half in,” Woodman told the club's official social media channels. “Maldini is a young boy. He was probably not used to (matches like the one on) Tuesday night having come from Arsenal.
“I thought he did really well for his first game. He’s physically strong for this level and we’re delighted to have him on board.”
Kacurri was not included in the matchday squad to face MK Dons on Saturday, however, although his side did come away with a 1-0 victory. Elsewhere among Arsenal's loan army, Nuno Tavares made his comeback from an adductor injury in Lazio's 5-1 win over Monza on Sunday.
The left-back played 65 minutes at Stadio Olimpico and looked solid at the back, with the result leaving the Italian side fourth in Serie A. Fabio Vieira, on loan at Porto, made two substitute appearances as he finds himself out of the starting XI at present. The 24-year-old got 23 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Rio Ave on Monday while he played 28 minutes against league leaders Sporting on Friday, with the game finishing 1-1.
In Spain it was more heartache for Karl Hein as the goalkeeper saw his Real Valladolid side lose their 16th La Liga game of the season. The 22-year-old started the 1-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Friday and Valladolid are now rock bottom of the table and eight points from safety.
Winger Marquinhos made his sixth and seventh appearance for Cruzeiro, with the winger playing 45 minutes in Thursday’s 1-1 draw away to America-MG and then the full match of Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Atletico Mineiro. The Brazilian has one goal and one assist in seven appearances this season, with Cruzeiro top of Group C of the Campeonato Mineiro with 11 points from seven games.
Fresh from completing a loan move to Hitchin Town, Brian Okonkwo made his second appearance for the club on Saturday after making his debut last week against Stourbridge. It was a day to remember for the young goalkeeper as he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Banbury, with the 19-year-old making a few fine saves in the process.
Arsenal's two other loan stars, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga, did not make the Fulham and Sevilla squads respectively due to injury. Nelson has been absent since the start of December with a hamstring injury, while Lokonga missed the 4-1 loss to Barcelona after picking up a hamstring injury.
The midfielder picked up the injury during training in midweek and it's been reported that he could face up to a month on the sidelines. In a statement Sevilla said: "The club can confirm that both Sambi Lokonga and Akor Adams were injured during Thursday's training session at the Ciudad Deportiva after suffering muscle injuries. The Belgian midfielder has a tendon injury in his hamstring, while the Nigerian forward has a tendon injury in his thigh muscle."