KV Mechelen has loaned defender Lovro Golic to Helmond Sport for the remainder of the season. The young Croatian moves to the Dutch sister club to gain more playing time.
The Jupiler Pro League club currently sits 15th in the table with just two points from five matches. Their next challenge is already on the horizon: a home fixture against Anderlecht on 11 September. KV Mechelen is also dealing with several absentees, including Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Tijn Van Ingelgom, which further increases the pressure on the squad.
Sporting director Tom Caluwé stressed the importance of this step for the player's development. "For his further development, it is important that he gets as many playing minutes as possible," Caluwé said. "The loan to Helmond Sport is therefore a vital next step in his development." Golic, who was signed from the AS Roma youth academy last summer, has so far played ten matches for the reserve team in Tweede Nationale. A step up to the first team did not materialise, making a loan the logical option.
The defender came through the youth ranks at AS Roma, where he featured for the U17, U18 and U20 sides. His arrival at KV Mechelen last summer was seen as an investment for the future. The plan was to let him acclimatise with the reserves first, followed by a breakthrough to the senior squad. That breakthrough has not yet happened, partly due to the team's difficult start to the season. With five goals scored and thirteen conceded in five games, the defence has struggled, but Golic has not had the chance to contribute.
The loan comes at a time when KV Mechelen itself is searching for stability. The team is thirteen points behind leaders Gent and has a negative goal difference of minus eight. The full league table can be found on our standings page. The absence of defenders Hjelde and Van Ingelgom leaves the defensive options thin, but the club has chosen to let Golic gain experience elsewhere. The squad for the coming matches can be consulted via the squad overview.
For Golic, an important chapter now begins in Helmond, where he will need to perform regularly. For KV Mechelen, the focus is on the immediate future, notably the home match against Anderlecht this Friday. All upcoming fixtures are listed in the fixtures. The club hopes Golic will return as a more mature defender, ready to compete for a place in the Jupiler Pro League first team in due course.
