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Ten great loans: From Jurgen Klinsmann to Henrik Larsson

Thibaut Courtois

Loan players have been making their mark in the Championship this season.

Of the 1,113 goals to be scored, 150 (13.5 per cent) have come from loanees, with Chelsea youngster Patrick Bamford netting 11 times for league leaders Middlesbrough.

But who are some of the best short-term captures of all time? We've picked out 10 great loanees - let us know who you'd add to the list...

Ronnie Rosenthal

Ronnie Rosenthal (left)
Image: Liverpool striker Ronnie Rosenthal (left)

Standard Liege to Liverpool (1990)

Rosenthal arrived at Anfield from Standard Liege in March 1990 with Liverpool trailing Aston Villa in the title race.

However, it did not take the relatively unknown forward long to make a mark in England, with Rosenthal scoring a perfect hat-trick on his full debut in a 4-0 win at Charlton Athletic.

And the Israel international’s seven goals in only eight league fixtures were crucial in Kenny Dalglish’s side going on to win that season’s First Division championship, still the club’s last top-flight crown.

Jurgen Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann Tottenham
Image: Spurs striker Jurgen Klinsmann

Sampdoria to Tottenham Hotspur (1998)

When Klinsmann re-joined Tottenham from Serie A side Sampdoria for his second spell at White Hart Lane in January 1998, the club were languishing in the relegation zone.

However, the striker’s goals - he scored nine times in just 15 Premier League games, including four in a 6-2 win at Wimbledon - saw Spurs finish the season in 14th place, four points above the drop zone.

And Klinsmann ended up playing the last top-level match of his illustrious career on the final day of that campaign, with the German inevitably netting in a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.

Jimmy Glass

Jimmy Glass
Image: Carlisle 'keeper Jimmy Glass

Swindon Town to Carlisle United (1999)

Glass joined Carlisle from Swindon towards the end of the 1998/99 season, with the goalkeeper going on to play just three league games while on loan with the club.

It was in the last of those matches, though, that Glass made himself a hero at Brunton Park as, with Carlisle needing three points against Plymouth to avoid relegation to the Conference and the score 1-1 with just seconds left, Glass volleyed home a dramatic winner.

However, despite that vital last-minute strike keeping Carlisle in the Football League, Glass never played again for the club.

Kevin Campbell

Kevin Campbell Everton
Image: Everton striker Kevin Campbell

Trabzonspor to Everton (1999)

Campbell arrived at Everton with the club staring relegation in the face, but the striker made an instant impact at Goodison Park, becoming the club’s top scorer that season with nine goals in only eight games as Walter Smith’s side avoided the drop.

And Campbell became the first-ever loanee in Premier League history to be awarded the Player of the Month award after scoring six times in five matches in April 1999.

Jermain Defoe

Jermaine Defoe
Image: On-loan Bournemouth forward Jermaine Defoe

West Ham United to Bournemouth (2000 - 2001)

Having burst into the West Ham first team in September 2000, Harry Redknapp sent Defoe out on loan to second division side Bournemouth.

During his time on the south coast the striker scored in 10 consecutive league games to equal John Aldridge’s and Clarrie Jordan’s post-war record, as well as finding the net on both his FA Cup and Football League Trophy debuts for the Cherries.

In total, Defoe bagged an impressive 18 goals in just 27 games before heading back to Upton Park at the end of the campaign.

Christophe Dugarry

Christophe Dugarry of Birmingham City celebrates scoring the opening goal in a Premiership match, April 2003
Image: Birmingham forward Christophe Dugarry

Bordeaux to Birmingham City (2003)

World Cup winner Dugarry signed for Birmingham on a six-month loan from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in January 2003 with the club mired in a relegation fight.

But a run of four goals in five league games in April - all leading to vital wins - managed to propel Steve Bruce’s team away from the bottom three and towards a final position of 13th in the table.

As a result, the France international agreed a two-year deal at St Andrew’s that summer, but after only one more goal for the club he returned back home due to personal reasons.

Henrik Larsson

Henrik Larsson
Image: Manchester United forward Henrik Larsson

Helsingborg IF to Manchester United (2007)

Having re-joined his hometown club following a successful spell at Barcelona, Larsson’s move to Old Trafford coincided with the Allsvenskan’s off season.

The former Celtic frontman scored on his debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round, before his strike against Lille in the Champions League last-16 propelled United toward the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.

In total, the Swede made 13 appearances, scoring three goals, as United finished the season with their first Premier League crown for four years.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane Celtic 2010
Image: Celtic striker Robbie Keane

Tottenham Hotspur to Celtic (2010)

Despite failing to win a trophy during his time at Parkhead, lifelong Celtic fan Keane certainly enjoyed his stay at the club.

"I am a Celtic fan and did not have to ask much about it. I always wanted to play for Celtic,” he said on signing.

The Republic of Ireland forward scored 16 goals in just 19 games for Celtic and was named the club’s Player of the Season, despite only spending four months in the East End of Glasgow.

Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge
Image: Bolton frontman Daniel Sturridge

Chelsea to Bolton Wanderers (2011)

Sturridge moved to Bolton on a six-month loan deal in January 2011 after struggling to win a starting berth up front at Stamford Bridge.

The striker made an immediate impact by coming off the bench to score an injury-time winner on his debut against Wolves, the first of four goals in his first four games for the club.

And the on-loan Chelsea forward finished his spell at the then Reebok Stadium with an impressive eight strikes to his name in just 12 Premier League matches.

Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois
Image: Atletico Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois

Chelsea to Atletico Madrid (2011 - 2014)

Four trophies, 138 appearances and a remarkable journey from a young prospect to arguably the greatest goalkeeper in the world - it’s safe to say Courtois' three-year spell with Atletico ranks as one of the best loan signings in recent time.

La Liga, Copa del Rey, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup crowns were all won during his time in the Spanish capital and it could well have ended in even greater success had Atleti held on against rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final last season.

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