It’s fair to say that 2025 has been a torrid year for a number of our youngsters out on loan across Europe.

The lead casualty is Antonio Cordero: expected to have a strong season after his EURO U-19 campaign with Spain, he’s struggled for minutes at Belgian side Westerlo, and a January recall seems imminent.

Our loan system and outsourcing of promising, developing talent has been the source of ridicule within our fanbase for years now, and with the exception of Yankuba Minteh, our recent track record has been shocking.

But there’s one player who’s offering a glimmer of hope, after his long-awaited first appearance for his temporary home club may have just set him up for a big 2026…

Sanusi shines off the bench

After close to four months on the sidelines to injury,  youngster Trevan Sanusi made his official FC Lorient debut and delivered a very promising performance.

Coming on just before the hour mark in Lorient’s Coupe de France game against AS Gosier, the 18-year-old recorded a goal and an assist in a resounding 7-0 win.

With Lorient already up 5-0 prior to Sanusi’s cameo, our young Magpie assisted Mohamed Bamba for the sixth, and finding the back of the net himself for the seventh and final goal.

That’s it for 2025 for Sanusi and Lorient, as their next match is on the 4th of January against Metz in the league, where Sanusi could finally make his league debut for the club as Lorient will look to make a push for European football in the second half of the season.

Otherwise, you’d fancy the Englishman to feature in the last 32 cup game away to Hauts Lyonais on the 10th of January.

What will 2026 have in store for Sanusi?

It’s no secret that Sanusi has big admirers in Eddie Howe and the senior coaches, having previously featured in the FA Cup and was a staple of our U-18 and PL2 sides.

Right now, our winger options are leaving a lot to be desired this season, with Anthony Gordon only just finding form, Jacob Murphy turning 31 in February, and Anthony Elanga still yet to capture his exhilarating form from Nottingham Forest.

So whilst he is by no means the finished product right now, you would like to think that Howe envisions Sanusi being one of the next youngsters he integrates into the senior set up, particularly as he can play on both sides of the attack.

We’ve seen just how good Lewis Miley has become with regular minutes this season, so if Sanusi can show some flashes of brilliance for Lorient in Ligue 1, he could certainly play himself into contention for a winger slot next season.