WEYMOUTH director of football Paul Maitland is thankful to both Frome Town and Dorchester Town for taking Harry Baker and Tiago Sa respectively on loan as both have returned to the Terras recently.
Sa spent a month with the Magpies while Baker was recalled six days after his one-month loan deal with the Robins was extended by another month. Both featured in the Terras’ 2-0 League Cup loss to Wimborne on Tuesday.
Maitland said: “It was a good opportunity to see them (Harry and Tiago). They both looked better for having gone out and got good minutes into them. Some different experiences as well which will hopefully stand them in good stead and us as a group.
“The loans have done what we hoped for and we are thankful for both Frome and Dorchester for having them and giving them what we weren’t able to give them at the time. Hopefully it has worked well for all parties, the proof will be going forward.”
Maitland also highlighted the performances of Liam Farrugia and Warren Bentley as positives to take from the Dorset Senior Cup defeat to Wimborne.
Maitland said: “It was good for Warren Bentley to get a full 90 in because he was in need of that as well.
He showed some real bright moments on Tuesday as well, lots of positives out of the game.
I thought Liam Farrugia had a really good game considering he played for us at centre-half on Tuesday night. That was his first competitive start at this level so he certainly did not do himself any harm.”
With Sa and Baker returning it completed a hat-trick of returnees for the Terras, following the news that Calvin Brooks has re-signed for Weymouth.
Maitland said: “It was good to see Bakes, Calvin and Tiago back out, so that only bodes well and creates some competition for the weekend as well.
When asked about the timing of Baker’s recall, Maitland explained: “We just felt with Josh being injured, although he is not a replacement for Josh, we just felt with Josh being out and at that point Ben Thomson had come off last weekend and were not sure of the time Thomson was going to be missing for. We just felt that it was right to bring Harry back and give us those options.”
Weymouth host Wimborne Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South today (3pm).
