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The January transfer window does not only provide an opportunity for Manchester City to strengthen their first-team squad, but also to explore the possibility of sending some of their talented academy players out on loan.

This season, the likes of Aro Muric, Tosin Adarabioyo, Patrick Roberts and Philippe Sandler are getting valuable first-team experience through the loan system - or at least that was the plan.

For Roberts and Muric, regular football has proved hard to come by, and January recalls look likely. For others, though, like Adarabioyo and Ryo Meshino, their loan spells are proving fruitful in their development.

Find out how nine of City's loanees are faring out on loan this season, and whether they will remain at their current clubs for the rest of the campaign...

Aro Muric

After a promising season as back-up to Ederson when Claudio Bravo was out, there were high hopes for Aro Muric when he joined Nottingham Forest on loan in the summer. It was a chance for him to build on his cup appearances for City with regular playing time in a competitive division.

Except things haven't gone the way Muric would have hoped, as he made two high-profile mistakes on debut for Forest and has only made four more appearances. The Kosovan hasn't featured since September and actually has more international appearances than domestic games this season.

After Forest's New Year's Day win over Blackburn, manager Sabri Lamouchi confirmed Muric is 'probably' set to return to City.

Patrick Roberts

Another player who's barely featured for their loan club, and Roberts' loan was cut short just two days into the transfer window.

Roberts, 22, only played four times for Norwich this season, with just 24 minutes of Premier League action across three substitute appearances.

He has been recalled by City and immediately sent out on loan to Championship side Middlesbrough for the rest of the season.

(Image: Getty Images)

Ryo Meshino

Japanese forward Meshino was on target in Heart's last SPL game of 2019 as he helped his loan side to a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen.

The 21-year-old has three goals in 18 appearances for the Edinburgh side as he adapts to British football following his move from Gamba Osaka this summer.

Zack Steffen

Fortuna Dusseldorf are currently in their winter break in the Bundesliga, and when they return Steffen will be tasked with keeping his first clean sheet in eight games.

Dusseldorf are third from bottom in the table, and despite Steffen's good form, are in danger of relegation in the second half of the campaign.

Aleix Garcia

After a two-year loan spell at Girona, Garcia was part of the City squad on the pre-season tour last summer. But with first-team chances limited, the 22-year-old is at Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium.

To his credit, the Spaniard has four goals and two assists in 17 appearances for his new side - although he hasn't scored since a purple patch in his first three appearances.

Garcia's City contract expires at the end of the season, and would be unlikely to earn a new deal.

Philippe Sandler

A promising start to the season alongside player-manager Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht has stalled after Sandler suffered a niggling knee injury that has eventually required surgery.

Last month, Sandler took to Instagram to announce his surgery was successful, and he has recently posted videos of him stepping up his recovery in training. He will be aiming to return in 2020 for a strong end to the season.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Popular defender Adarabioyo, 22, has built on a promising season at West Brom last year to establish himself in the starting XI at Blackburn.

Injuries hampered his start at Ewood Park, but Rovers put together a promising run of just three defeats in 11 games as Adarabioyo returned to the first team to move clear of any relegation worries. Recently, though, Blackburn are winless in four Championship fixtures, with Adarabioyo missing two of their games over Christmas.

Lukas Nmecha

Like Zack Steffen, Nmecha's Wolfsburg are currently taking a break from Bundesliga action. For striker Nmecha, he will be hoping to return in better form than when the winter break began, as he has not played a league game since November.

Nmecha is yet to find the net for Wolfsburg, and has just one start to his name in Germany. An improvement is needed in the second half of the campaign.

Luke Bolton

Bolton's season is largely reflective of his Luton side - full of effort, but not much to show for it.

Bolton has featured in most games for Luton in the Championship at right-back or right midfield and has two assists to his name. As Luton are fighting to stay in the second tier, Bolton has found himself in and out of the team. At just 20 years old, though, this season has the potential to be a huge learning curve for Bolton.