Manchester United loan watch: Merseyside disappointment for Van de Beek & Williams plus Martial’s injury woes

To say it was a frustrating weekend for Manchester United’s loan players is an understatement.

Of the 16 clubs the Red Devils currently have sent loanees to, only one managed to pick up a win over the weekend. The team in question, Walsall, were also without their on-loan United man as they picked up three points.

In fact, only seven of the 17 loan players featured in the last few days, with plenty missing out due to injury, being benched or matches called off by the adverse weather.

Here’s how United’s loanees fared last weekend…

Top-tier tussles

Starting in the Premier League, it was a disappointing afternoon for Brandon Williams at Anfield, with the young left-back struggling to contain the lively Mohamed Salah.

Williams was beaten several times by the Egyptian and received a yellow card during the 3-1 loss in Liverpool.

From the blue half of Merseyside, Donny van de Beek once again played 90 minutes for Everton this weekend, however Frank Lampard’s side fell to a frustrating 3-0 loss. Van de Beek operated in the middle of the park alongside Allan.

In Europe, Axel Tuanzebe could be involved for Napoli when they face Cagliari on Monday night, although he has struggled with a back injury recently.

Another who is facing injury woes at present is Anthony Martial, and the forward had to be withdrawn in the first half of Sevilla’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol, and is waiting to hear the prognosis on the problem.

Elsewhere in La Liga, Facundo Pellistri was an unused substitute as Deportivo Alaves lost 3-0 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Amad continued the unfortunate run of United loanees over the weekend when he failed to impress after coming off the bench in Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Sunday.

It was actually a meeting of two United on-loan men at Tannadice, with Dylan Levitt playing the full 90 minutes in the encounter and providing the assist for Ross Graham’s goal after 29 minutes.

United only have one loanee playing outside of Europe, but Andreas Pereira didn’t make it off the bench as Flamengo lost to Atletico Minero on penalties in the final of Sunday’s Brazilian Supercup.

In the Football League

Of the 17 players United currently have on short-term deals away from the club, nine are based in the Football League, and they didn’t experience much joy over the weekend either.

To start, Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, which could have seen Ethan Laird take on James Garner, was called off due to the wet and windy weather. Meanwhile, injury prevented Teden Mengi playing in Birmingham City’s 2-2 draw with Stoke City on Saturday, with Tahith Chong still not recovered in time to play for the Blues.

There was a little more positive news for Di’Shon Bernard, who played the full 90 minutes at right-back for Hull City as they held promotion-chasing Queens Park Rangers to a 1-1 draw.

Down into League One, Ethan Galbraith is still injured and sat out the team’s 3-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, while Matej Kovar was an unused substitute as Burton Albion were beaten by Ipswich Town.

Further down the football ladder, Nathan Bishop played the full game as Mansfield Town drew 1-1 with Newport County, while Reece Devine wasn’t involved as Walsall beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0.