While Watford fell to a first defeat of the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship campaign away at Stoke City on Saturday (August 19), a number of Hornets were busy in action out on loan across the weekend.
Young attacking duo Shaq Forde and Kwadwo Baah earned their first minutes for League One outfits Leyton Orient and Burton Albion respectively (August 19), with both having departed Vicarage Road on season-long loans earlier this month.
Forde’s Orient debut saw him replace Tom James in the 77th minute of a goalless draw away at Blackpool, and Baah also helped his temporary club earn a share of the spoils 0-0 away at Wycombe Wanderers, having come on with just under half-an-hour to play.
One step above, in the Championship, forward Ashley Fletcher made his third league appearance of the season for Sheffield Wednesday (August 19), featuring for the final 13 minutes of a narrow 1-0 home loss to Preston North End.
Academy prospect George Abbott made his first start for Chippenham Town in their 2-1 National League South defeat to Tonbridge Angels at Hardenhuish Park (August 19), while over in Italy defender João Ferreira came on as a second-half substitute in Udinese’s 3-0 home loss to Serie A giants Juventus (Sunday August 20).
