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Manchester City may have to act in January with Divin Mubama the latest player to struggle out on loan
Stoke City boss Mark Robins had to ask supporters not to boo their own player Divin Mubama as another Manchester City youngster finds things tough on loan. The striker was targeted by his own supporters during a 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United on Monday and was replaced before the hour.
Stoke defied expectations with an excellent start to the season that had them pushing at the top end of the table, but have fallen out of play-off contention after just two wins in their last ten matches.
Mubama has been involved in nearly every game, starting 18 out of 26 in all competitions. The 21-year-old scored on debut against Barnsley and bagged a hat-trick against Bristol City in November but has since gone goalless in ten appearances since and Stoke-on-Trent Live reported that fans appeared frustrated with his workrate as they booed him against Sheffield United on Monday.
“He knows," said boss Marc Robins. "What I would say is that he has to be better and understand what is required of him. Perceptions are everything really and you have to make sure that is right first.
“I understand, I’m not stupid, but I would ask that doesn’t happen because it doesn’t help anybody. If I feel that someone is not performing or underperforming then it is down to me to make sure they do or they don’t start. It’s as simple as that. You have to earn the right to be in the team.
“Players always pick the team. They always pick the team with their performances. I just ask them to be a little bit more forgiving and let me deal with the other stuff and not to boo. It’s not really what we want to be about.”
Mubama is the latest City player to struggle on loan this season. Leverkusen have already announced that Claudio Echeverri's move has been terminated early, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has not had the game time at Celtic and a bright start for Sverre Nypan at Middlesbrough has fizzled out.
City have a number of decisions to make in the January window to decide if they need to change clubs for some of their loan players.
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