John Eustace gives glowing reference as Stoke City recall midfielder
John Eustace is begrudgingly sending Lewis Baker back to Stoke City with thanks for his work on and off the pitch at Blackburn Rovers.
Eustace had hoped he had got Baker on loan for the full season but new Stoke manager Mark Robins has triggered a January recall clause and summoned the midfielder back to the bet365 Stadium.
Baker, aged 29, has made 13 appearances to help Eustace's side try to break into the Championship play-off picture and had been currently holding down a starting spot after Lewis Travis was sidelined with injury.
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Eustace told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Lewis has been fantastic on and off the pitch – most important off the pitch really. He is a leader and his experience has really helped the group through some good times and difficult times.
“He has been brilliant with the young boys, he is a top professional and that is the reason we brought him to the football club. We knew what we would get from him and he is going to be missed.
“Especially a player of Lewis’ quality, when a club gets a new manager there is always that risk and unfortunately we have lost him, but it will give somebody else an opportunity now."
Baker will go straight into Robins' Stoke squad for an FA Cup third round tie at Sunderland on Saturday (3pm).
