Ollie Whatmuff, Manchester City to Stockport

Goalkeepers are supposed to peak at about 30, which makes one wonder how good the 18-year-old Whatmuff will be at that point. He spent last season playing professionally, earning promotion from the National League with Rochdale under the tutelage of Jimmy McNulty. When the manager jumped two divisions to Stockport, Whatmuff was the first person he wanted to take with him. City showed how highly they think of Whatmuff by incorporating him within their pre-season tour travelling party, where he worked closely with Gianluigi Donnarumma. Whatmuff is extremely composed with the ball at his feet, unfazed by pressure and his surroundings. Those who have worked with him are confident he will spend his career in the Premier League and win full international honours.

Samuel Iling-Junior, Aston Villa to Bolton

The winger has spent his career flitting between England and Italy, taking in Juventus, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Pisa along the way. It feels like a fascinating career but one that needs a more permanent setting. Wingers who can use both feet are incredibly desirable and Iling-Junior is further aided by his pace. Wherever he has been, the 22-year-old has never made his mark consistently but he has the qualities to succeed and requires more game time to hone the skills that enabled him to score in Serie A and earn 16 England Under-21 caps.

Charlie Gray, Manchester City to Wigan

Pep Guardiola gave the midfielder his City debut, a fine reward for someone who joined aged five and is an FA Youth Cup winner. He made steady progress until 15 when he sustained a fractured spine, then showed admirable courage and desire to return, only to fracture his shins. The holding midfielder, described as “clever and intelligent” by Guardiola, is regarded as happy to sit in front of the defence. This season was viewed as the right time for Gray to progress his development in the third tier. Gray was not used by Gary Caldwell in Wigan’s opening three games, all of which were lost, but started Wednesday’s home victory against MK Dons.

Mason Melia, Tottenham to Lincoln

It cost a League of Ireland record for Tottenham to sign the forward, who made almost 100 first-team appearances for St Patrick’s Athletic before leaving as an 18-year-old in January. Clubs from across the pyramid and around Europe were interested in Melia, whose clever movement is a key part of his game. He is able to play as the focal point of the attack but can also drop deep and get on the ball. A natural finisher, he will be pushing for more chances at Lincoln, who managed one shot on goal from 18 attempts in their goalless draw with Blackburn on Tuesday.

Lamin Sillah, Nottingham Forest to Gillingham

The striker, spotted in the Gambia playing for Steve Biko FC, has ticked off time with Olympiakos and Forest. It will be interesting to see how the speedy forward adapts at a club who have scored twice in their opening four matches. Silleh’s ceiling is above the fourth tier but he needs some polishing and that begins with facing League Two defenders on a weekly basis, learning the tricks of the trade from gnarled centre-backs who do not take kindly to Premier League kids

Tommi O’Reilly, Aston Villa to Doncaster

This is a fifth loan for the midfielder, whose journey has taken in the Basque County and Crewe with a few stops in between. It was at Gresty Road last season that he found his feet, playing every game in League Two and scoring seven goals. During his academy days, teammates would compare him to Phil Foden thanks to his skill and style. Grant McCann spent a long time developing young talent at Peterborough and is doing the same at Doncaster, where O’Reilly is aiming to keep his career on an upward trajectory.

Keyrol Figueroa, Liverpool to Port Vale

It would be great to come up with plenty of reasons to follow the striker’s progress from in-depth scouting to being tipped the wink by a Liverpool coach but, ultimately, everyone just wants to see how the son of the former Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa gets on in League Two. Maynor was a cult hero at the Latics and is still turning out for Whythenshawe Vets. Keyrol spent his youth career playing for USA, the country of his birth, but earned his first Honduras cap this year. He will need a further 180 to match his dad.

Rio Cardines, Crystal Palace to Bristol City

The full-back’s first two Palace games were against Dynamo Kyiv and Arsenal and he has 11 Trinidad & Tobago caps but this season his ability will be consistently challenged. The early signs are good for an athletic, speedy defender eager to get up and down. Versatility made him an attractive option for the Robins, where Michael Skubala is using Cardines at left-back despite the 20-year-old spending more of his career on the right. The change is working because Cardines has made three assists.

Harry Howell, Brighton to Leicester

Howell’s selection for a Premier League bench at 16 shows what Brighton think of the attacking midfielder but he had to wait until he turned 17 for his debut against the then champions Liverpool. A cultured player who rolls down his socks, Howell can play in numerous roles in the final third. He was awarded a three-year deal before being sent to Leicester to join the Russell Martin evolution, which includes two more Brighton loanees, Tommy Watson and Kamari Doyle. Howell’s father, Jamie, was a professional who started his career at Arsenal and his cousin Jack Hinshelwood has become a Brighton regular.