Loan Report: Barkas clean sheet helps FC Utrecht secure Euro play-off spot | OneFootball

With the season continuing to wind down, and leagues across Europe coming to a close, a number of Celtic loanees have brought their temporary spells to an end.

However, for some players there are still league positions to battle it out for, with clubs looking to secure European football for next campaign.

Here are five of the most notable talking points involving Celts on loan last weekend, and a round-up of how all the players got on.

Vasilis Barkas (FC Utrecht)Appearances: 34Clean Sheets: 11Played 90 minutes, keeping a clean sheet in 3-0 win over Waalwijk.

Vasilis Barkas helped FC Utrecht seal a European play-off place, keeping a clean sheet as they defeated ninth-placed Waalwijk 2-0 on Saturday.

The goalkeeper made two saves during the match to secure his second shutout in a row, and his 11th overall of the season for his loan side.

Victory at the weekend now means that Utrecht have their secured their position in the fifth to eighth-place European play-off, and they will battle it out with the other sides for a UEFA Conference League qualifying spot.

With just two games remaining in the Eredivise season, Barkas and his team-mates will take on Ajax and FC Emmen to finish off the regular campaign.

Liam Scales (Aberdeen)Appearances: 37Goals: 1Assists: 1Played the entire game during Aberdeen’s 0-0 draw with Hibernian.

Liam Scales and Aberdeen look to be edging ever closer to securing an automatic European group-stage spot as the Dons held Hibernian to a 0-0 draw.

The Irish internationalist kept his place in the backline and played his seventh consecutive 90 minutes, helping Barry Robson’s side pick up a point at Pittodrie.

Hibernian had the chance to score late on from the penalty spot. However, after Kevin Nisbet missed his effort from 12 yards it meant both teams took home a share of the spoils.

Sitting five points ahead of Hearts in third place heading into the final three games, Aberdeen look in prime position to secure a European group stage spot for next season.

Their next match could be a huge deciding factor in that, as they travel to take on Hearts at Tynecastle this weekend.

Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers)Appearances: 17Goals: 5Assists: 1Played 64 minutes in Shamrock Rovers’ 3-0 win against UCD.

Shamrock Rovers maintained their fantastic run of form, defeating UCD 3-0, and Johnny Kenny continued to lead the line for Stephen Bradley’s side.

The young forward was up front as the current League of Ireland Premier Division champions looked to go top for the first time this campaign.

Taking on bottom of the league, Rovers were comfortable winners and Kenny played just over an hour as he and his team-mates made it five wins on the bounce.

The busy fixture schedule continues for Shamrock Roverslater on this evening (Monday), taking on St Patrick’s Athletic at home.

Mikey Johnston (Vitória de Guimaraes)Appearances: 29Goals: 3Assists: 5Kept his place in the side and played the entire game in 1-0 win over Rio Ave.

After putting in a Man of the Match performance last week, Mikey Johnston kept his place in the Vitoria de Guimaraes starting XI for their match against Rio Ave.

And the Irishman played the entire game, helping his loan side to another crucial three points in their push for European football.

Following their 1-0 win over Rio Ave, Vitoria climbed to fifth in the league above FC Arouca and into the UEFA Conference League third round qualifying spot.

Ismaila Soro’s Arouca play later this evening, looking to climb above his fellow Celtic loanee in the league table.

Johnston has just two games remaining of his productive loan spell out in Portugal, with matches against Gil Vicente and Porto to come in the next few weeks.

Adam Montgomery (St Johnstone)Appearances: 30Goals: 1Assists: 3Played 90 minutes in 2-0 defeat to Motherwell.

Following their return to winning ways last weekend, St Johnstone and Adam Montgomery weren’t able to build upon that result, losing out against Motherwell on Saturday.

The youngster has been a mainstay in the Saints side who are still looking to secure their place in the Scottish Premiership for next season. They couldn’t do that this weekend, losing out to the on-form Motherwell who took home three points from their trip to McDiarmid Park.

Montgomery completed the most dribbles of any player in the game, but ultimately couldn’t do enough to help his side to victory, with St Johnstone currently sitting just three points above Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot.

Ismaila Soro (FC Arouca)Appearances: 29Goals: 0Assists: 0In action later this evening (Monday) vs Estoril.

Tobi Oluwayemi (Cork City)Appearances: 2Clean Sheets: 0Remained sidelined through injury for Cork City’s 2-1 loss to Dundalk.

Yosuke Ideguchi (Avispa Fukuoka)Appearances: 3Goals: 0Assists: 0Remained sidelined through injury and missed 0-0 draw against Sagan Tosu. Expected to return in June.

Albian Ajeti (Sturm Graz)Appearances: 23Goals: 4Assists: 1Missed Sturm Graz’s 4-1 win against Austria Klagenfurt through injury.