Update emerges on Leeds United loanee after Boxing Day snub
Oxford United manager Des Buckingham has provided an update on Leeds United loanee Sonny Perkins’ future after the 19-year-old was snubbed again on Boxing Day.
Perkins joined the U’s from the Whites in the summer transfer window on a season-long loan but has failed to feature regularly in League One, making only six appearances in all competitions under both Buckingham and Liam Manning.
The Leeds loanee was not even named on Oxford’s bench for their Boxing Day clash with Cambridge United and despite his lack of involvement this season, Buckingham has insisted that no conversations have taken place over an early return to Elland Road.
As quoted by the Oxford Mail (27 December) he said: “We haven’t had that conversation with Sonny. He’s still training with us and training extremely well.
“He’s just got Sparky [Mark Harris] and Gats [Gatlin O’Donkor] in front of him, and that’s been the situation, so rather than put someone on the bench that we potentially aren’t going to use, we’ll free up a space for a midfielder, to make sure we have cover in those areas.”
Get him a new move
The plan with this loan move for Perkins would have been to get the Leeds United youngster some regular game time in League One to help his development and move him a step closer to breaking into the Whites’ first team in the future.
For whatever reason, this switch hasn’t worked out as hoped with Perkins appearing to be a spare part at the Kassam Stadium making only three league appearances this season totally a miserable five minutes of action.
The 19-year-old is at best the third-choice forward option for Oxford this season and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon with Buckingham admitting that he’d rather have a midfielder on the bench rather than the extra attacking option Perkins provides.
It would be best for all parties if Leeds looked to bring Perkins back to Elland Road in January. He may not be ready to play a regular part in Daniel Farke’s team, but a move elsewhere in the EFL for the second half of the campaign would be better for his development than sitting on the bench at Oxford.
In other Leeds United news, Brighton have already begun their homework ahead of a potential move for Crysencio Summerville