First Team

LOAN REPORT | SEPTEMBER 2024

3rd October 2024

Eight of Dundee United’s hottest prospects are temporarily plying their trade for various clubs around the UK in the hopes of attaining valuable senior minutes. Let’s review their progress throughout September.

LEWIS O’DONNELL

Following a sparkling stint with Kelty Hearts last term, Lewis O’Donnell appears to have picked up from where he left off in the third tier having already cemented himself as a regular at Palmerston.

The 19-year-old has anchored the midfield for all three of their League One matches in September, with the Doonhamers avoiding defeat in clashes with Arbroath, Stenhousemuir and Dumbarton.

O’Donnell grabbed the headlines in the latter, opening the scoring with a sumptuous curling strike from the edge of the area - the second senior goal of his burgeoning career. 

Queen of the South now lead the pack on goal difference, as they look to end a three-year absence from the Championship under the guidance of Peter Murphy.

Their campaign continues in October with the visit of Kelty Hearts tomorrow and a subsequent cross-country trip to Balmoral, before they close out the month by taking on local rivals Annan Athletic

SAMUEL CLEALL-HARDING 

Samuel Cleall-Harding is yet to miss a minute of League One football for the Maroon Machine since embarking on his first loan stint.

Playing in the middle of the back four alongside seasoned campaigner Tam O’Ware, the boyhood Arab has aided Kelty’s efforts to keep four clean sheets so far this season.

The most recent came in a resounding victory over Annan Athletic - a result that propelled Michael Tidser’s men back into the final Promotion Play-Off spot.

Cleall-Harding ranks in the top five for passes per 90 minutes when compared to all players in the division aged under 23, averaging 51.2.

RUARIDH ADAMS 

Since joining fellow Academy graduate Cleall-Harding at New Central Park, promising shot-stopper Ruairidh Adams has added 756 minutes to his relative wealth of senior experience for his age, having already enjoyed three previous spells away from Tannadice across the pyramid.

The 20-year-old has secured a shutout in 50% of his League One matches so far, having kept Stenhousemuir, Arbroath, Inverness CT and Annan at bay.

Adams currently boasts the highest long pass accuracy percentage in the third tier, with almost two-thirds finding their intended target.

Kelty face a stiff test on Matchday Seven as they go head-to-head with table-topping Queen of the South, with latter fixtures during October pitting them against Montrose and Stenhousemuir.

JACK NEWMAN

After being named in former United legend Duncan Ferguson’s starting XI for Inverness’ opening two league bouts against Dumbarton and Annan Athletic respectively, Jack Newman’s promising start to life in the Highlands was halted by injury. 

As a result, he returned to the DUFC Training Centre for treatment with the club’s medical staff.

Now deemed fit enough to head back up the A9, the goalkeeper will battle it out for the gloves with Spanish colleague Muse Dibag in the hopes of reclaiming the number one jersey at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

October will also bring an international adventure for Newman after he was included in the Scotland Under-21s squad for the second time in as many months. 

Crunch clashes with Belgium and Kazakhstan round off Scotland’s UEFA U21 Euro Group B Qualifying campaign - matches which are also set to feature United starlet Miller Thomson.

BRYAN MWANGI

Bryan Mwangi has aided Broxburn Athletic’s efforts to climb to sixth in the Lowland League table following their historic promotion into the fifth tier of Scottish football last term.

A slight niggle sidelined him for matchups with Bo’ness United and Stirling University, before he returned to action on Matchday Ten in a thumping 4-0 triumph over Cowdenbeath.

Mwangi also featured in the Badgers’ televised Scottish Cup First Round tie with Dalkeith - another four-goal haul securing their progression.

The Edinburgh native has put over 450 minutes under his belt so far in West Lothian, and is certain to add to that in the coming weeks with tussles against East Stirlingshire, Bo’ness United, Civil Service Strollers and Auchinleck Talbot pencilled in.

ADAM CARNWATH

A heady nine days for Adam Carnwath has seen him involved in three competitive matches as he continues his recovery from a serious ankle injury sustained in March.

The 18-year-old was unveiled as a Cumbernauld Colts player last Friday and made his Broadwood bow less than 24 hours later in the Scottish Cup First Round.

He followed this up with a full senior debut as David Proctor’s side visited East Stirlingshire on Tuesday night - an evening to forget for the Colts but one to remember for Carnwath chalking up the first league appearance of his career.

SEAN BORLAND 

Following on from 180 consecutive minutes in the cut and thrust of the Lowland League, Sean Borland joined Carnwath in Scottish Cup proceedings as Cumbernauld Colts and Civil Service Strollers met in the First Round.

He’d then go on to replace his Tannadice colleague in the aforementioned defeat at the Falkirk Stadium as the match entered the final quarter.

A home double-header which sees Albion Rovers and Civil Service Strollers descend on Broadwood kicks off their October schedule, before Colts head for Dumbarton to take on last-placed Broomhill.

RORY MACLEOD 

The only player to have headed south of the border, Rory MacLeod enjoyed his first taste of competitive action when a Norwich City side featuring ex-United talent Brandon Forbes pitched up on the south coast, making a 17-minute cameo from the bench. 

Southampton balance their domestic duties with the Premier League 2 International Cup, with RB Leipzig set to make the journey to the UK later this month.

Group D also features Real Sociedad, Sporting CP and Anderlecht from the continent, while English outfits Chelsea, Brighton and Crystal Palace complete the roll call.

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