Throughout the summer transfer window, Leeds United loaned out eleven players.
Some of them were young players in need of consistent playing time, but the majority were members of the first team from the previous season who were searching for a way out following their relegation.
Sonny Perkins was among those who managed to land a loan move to promotion-chasing Oxford United in pursuit of senior football for the first time in his career.
But it’s fair to say that not a single thing has gone according to plan. At Oxford, Perkins has only played five minutes of League One football, three of which were in September.
Although it was evident that his former manager Liam Manning did not think highly of him, there was hope that he could improve after moving to Bristol City and scoring a goal against Chelsea U21s in the EFL Trophy.
Oxford’s Perkins wastes development
Following Manning, Oxford made a rather unconventional choice for their next manager when they appointed 38-year-old Des Buckingham, who has overseen three games across all competitions.
In his first game as manager, a 2-0 loss at Cheltenham Town, Buckingham did in fact give Perkins his first two minutes of league football since September. Since then, however, he has not been seen.
Leeds United vs. Cardiff City: Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Perkins was even completely left out of the squad for the FA Cup tie against Grimsby Town on Saturday, which you would’ve thought could have been a chance for him to stake a claim.
But it is now clear that Perkins just isn’t going to get the football he needs at Oxford, and so Leeds simply have to recall him in January and send him to another club, even if it is a lower level.
Perkins has always looked talented in each of his first team appearances for Leeds, and it is a shame to see it going to waste at the moment.
