Birmingham City's rivals suffer heavy blow to promotion chances ahead of key fixture
Birmingham City's promotion rivals - and New Year's Day opponents - Stockport County have suffered the blow that they will lose loanee Louie Barry for the second half of the season after parent club Aston Villa confirmed that they'd be recalling the in-form striker. Barry, who came through the West Brom academy before joining Barcelona and then moving onto Villa in 2020, has been in red-hot form for County since joining at the beginning of last season.
Helping Stockport to promotion from League Two with nine goals, Barry returned to Edgeley Park in the summer and continued his fine form in front of goal, despite the step up in league; he has bagged 15 goals for the club this season, helping them into the play-offs at Christmas, and that includes 14 goals and three assists in the league.
Barry has been summoned back to Villa, who have allowed him to play against Blues on 1 January as his final appearance for the club. It's expected that he will now be granted another loan spell and an opportunity to operate at a higher level still, with a host of top Championship clubs including Leeds United, Derby County and Middlesbrough linked with moves for the forward.
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Stockport, well beaten at St Andrew's recently, are currently fifth in the league behind fellow promoted side Wrexham, relegated sides Blues and Huddersfield Town - who they visit on Boxing Day - and pacesetters Wycombe Wanderers, but they'll now have to overcome the loss of their talisman who has helped to carry their momentum on following promotion.
Stockport's club statement said: "In his time under the management of Dave Challinor at Edgeley Park has developed into one of the most feared forwards in League One. Since returning to SK3 in the Summer Louie has gone from strength to strength, departing as the leading goalscorer in League One this season with 14 goals – at least four more than any other player in the division."
