Etuhu joins Cardiff on loan

As confirmed by the Cardiff official site.

Etuhu has plenty of promise, but, similarly to the likes of Ishmael Miller, and more recently Ched Evans before him, the Championship is ultimately the probable level for him. A good move for both parties though, as his options will be limited this season (particularly now Vladimir Weiss has moved ahead of him in the pecking order), but it will be a chance for him to get a full season of regular action behind him.

The piece suggests that Cardiff beat off Wolves and Portsmouth for the signing. This I can't really understand, as surely a better test of where he stands would be to send him out to a Premier League side?

Etuhu joins Leicester on loan

Kelvin Etuhu has joined Leicester City on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who made his City debut earlier this season, links up with Ian Holloway’s side as they battle to stave off relegation from the Championship.

Etuhu made his bow for the Blues in the Carling Cup tie with Norwich City, his slide-rule pass setting up Georgios Samaras to pounce for the winning goal. His first start came against Spurs and just a week later he had his first goal, the final one in the 4-2 home win over Bolton. His most recent game was the draw with Derby at the end of January.

Last season saw Kelvin make an impact while on loan at Rochdale, that stint being cut short by a serious knee ligament injury which he had completely shaken off by the start of pre-season.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Etuhu enjoyed a brief stint in the first team earlier in the season, but apart from his appearance in Thailand, has been out of the spotlight in recent times.

The Championship will be a good test for Etuhu, and he will hope to emulate the success of Ishmael Miller and Ched Evans, and perhaps will provide a good indication of whether his future lies with the club depending on how he performs.

Personally, I have my doubts that he will ultimately make it at the club, believing he (like Miller) is a little short technically to be a success in the Premier League - but, this loan is another example of the standing our Academy players are thought of within the game, and at the very least should see Etuhu prove himself at Championship level.

Etuhu pens new deal

Kelvin Etuhu has capped a great few weeks by signing a contract with Manchester City until the end of the 2009/10 season.

This season has seen the 19-year-old make his first team debut and score his first goal for the Blues in the 4-2 win over Bolton last Saturday. He had already made an immediate impact in his first appearance as a substitute, setting up Georgios Samaras for the winning goal against Norwich in the Carling Cup.

Sven-Goran Eriksson was pleased to get the deal done and speaking exclusively to mcfc.co.uk he declared: "Good news. Kelvin has signed a new contract – very good.

"We are very happy about that and it’s one more young, talented player and we’ll see how good he can be. We know he’s good already because he’s played in the first team and we are very pleased."

A product of the City Academy, Kelvin has fought back from the cruciate knee injury that ended his 2006/07 season while on loan at Rochdale.

After signing his new contract, Etuhu said: "I’m very happy and happy to be at a club that’s going forward. I’m working under a very experienced manager and I’m very happy to be here.

"I was hoping that the new contract would come and I’ve been working hard to make it happen and I’m delighted it’s arrived."

And he outlined his aims saying: "I want to cement my place in the team and hopefully be successful with this Football Club."

-mcfc.co.uk

Etuhu likely ruled out for remainder of season

Sad news for Kelvin Etuhu as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to medial ligament damage suffered whilst on loan at League 2 side Rochdale.

Etuhu had enjoyed success at Spotland, scoring twice during his loan spell and it was likely that the initial month would have been extended further with the hope he would have gained further experience in the hope of challenging for a first team position next season.

Etuhu sent out on loan

Youngster Kelvin Etuhu has joined League 2 side Rochdale on an initial months loan, which should be a good move for a player who, on the couple of times I've seen him looks to be a good player and of a similar talent to the much-heralded Daniel Sturridge.

On the subject of young players, The Times ran a series of articles this week on young players and club academies. The first featured City and the article can be read here, and picking out the paragraphs on City (and Jim Cassell):

"The clubs, in turn, would point to the noticeboard in
Manchester City’s Platt Lane academy training complex, where there hangs a
framed picture of the most recent home-grown boy to break into the first team.
The face in the frame at present is Michael Johnson, who made his City debut
against Wigan Athletic in October.
A youngster coming through the system all
the way to the top is a statement of success, which is why there is a frame next
to Johnson’s picture that remains forever empty, except for the words: “Who’s
next?” Every day at training, the City boys are asking themselves: “Am I next?”
So far, 20 faces have been in that frame, an astonishing record and a sign that
the development of local boys is not a flawed concept."