Noel Hunt and Nicky Ajose have gone out on loan before tomorrow’s deadline, to Ipswich Town and Crewe Alexandra respectively.

The first part of that sentence will have many Leeds fans jumping for joy, as Hunt has managed a staggering no goals for the first team in the 15 months he has been with us, and is reportedly one of the highest earning members of the squad.

His poor form has inevitably pushed him well down the pecking order at Elland Road, and the arrival of several other strikers in the summer ensured that his one appearance this season was against Accrington in the League Cup. His contract expires at the end of the season and it’s a safe bet that it won’t be renewed.

You may be wondering why on earth a club above us in the table would want a non-scoring striker, but it’s been suggested that some unspecified personal problems were getting the better on him at Leeds, and at least he will have his brother Stephen at Ipswich to keep him company.

And the East Anglian Daily Times have suggested another reason, as for the next month they will have Jonny Williams and Kevin Bru out with injuries, so they will need Hunt as cover. The loan is reportedly with a view to a permanent transfer, but it remains to be seen whether Ipswich will still want him once they’ve seen him play, and if Williams and Bru are back to fitness in January.

It’s not been reported whether Ipswich will be paying all his wages, or whether he will be able to play against us in the game at Portman Road in 10 days time, but we hope that ‘yes’ will turn out to be the answer to both questions.

Leeds have also agreed a deal to send Nicky Ajose to Crewe until the new year, so he will be able to gain a bit of first team experience. The 23 year-old made four appearances in August after joining us from Peterborough, but has since been displaced by some of the later signings who arrived before the transfer window closed.

He is unlikely to be any more than a squad player during the rest of his time at Leeds, but we may need to retain him as cover, especially if we are hit with a transfer embargo in the new year.

It’s been suggested that there may be one or two other players going out on loan by the time the deadline expires tomorrow, so watch this space.

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