"Isn’t working out" - Stoke City man touted for January transfer exit to League One | OneFootball

Niall Ennis has failed to make his mark after his move to the bet365 Stadium earlier in the year

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Since joining Stoke City at the start of the calendar year, Niall Ennis has failed to nail down a regular spot in the Potters side, with just seven league starts to his name during his time at the bet365 Stadium.

With Steven Schumacher and Narcis Pelach both seeing him far down the pecking order when it comes to forwards, there will be plenty of speculation regarding his future as the January transfer window comes around, with just 98 minutes of Championship football this season speaking for itself.

Having played such a big part in Plymouth Argyle’s promotion from League One back in the 22/23 campaign, Ennis has failed to find his feet in the second tier, with troubled spells at Blackburn Rovers and City leaving him very much on the periphery in Staffordshire right now.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s Stoke fan pundit Sam Harrison about the striker’s future at the club, and what would be the best decision to make when 2025 comes around.

Stoke City told to take Niall Ennis action in January 2025

Ennis has netted just once in his time as a Stoke City player, with his single goal coming against former club Blackburn in a 3-1 defeat in just his second appearance for the Potters way back in February.

Since then, the 25-year-old has had to watch on as the likes of Tyrese Campbell and Million Manhoef started in his place, before the arrival of Tom Cannon this season gave his hopes of regular football another major blow, as well as Sam Gallagher being added to the fold.

There were reports of League One sides Wrexham and Barnsley being interested in the forward near the end of the summer transfer window, but no deal was ever reached, but as January nears, Harrison believes a deal could be concluded when the new year begins.

When asked about the forward’s situation, the Stoke fan told FLW: “With Niall Ennis, I do think permanently shipping him off in January would be the correct decision, for both him and the club.

“It just looks like it hasn’t worked out; you see time and time again where players move to a different club and it doesn’t work out.

“He is still only 25-years-old, so he is going up to the stereotypical peak of a footballer’s career, and he was linked with a move to Barnsley in the summer, so I think a move there, or somewhere similar in League One, could be where he is able to show his best form.

“It just isn’t working out at all, and I think it is one of them where it is difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is, but it does look like there is a nice relationship there with Narcis Pelach, but he isn’t a favourite of his when you have Tom Cannon banging in the goals.

“You also have Emre Tezgel, a young, up and coming academy product who I would put ahead of Niall Ennis, so it is just one of those where it has not worked out, so in January I do think he will be moved on permanently.”

Offloading Niall Ennis will be one of Stoke City’s January priorities

With the likes of Cannon and Tezgel to rely upon, Ennis barely has a part to play in the Potteries, and with 18-months still left on his current deal, Pelach [pictured] will surely be looking to get rid as soon as possible and free up room for more winter recruits.

There is no question that Ennis can produce the goods in the third tier, as 18 goal contributions the last time he was playing at the level proves, and Harrison is of the belief that he will no longer be a Potter come February 2025, with shipping him out one of the main demands of Pelach in January, and League One perhaps being an ideal destination.

Sam added: “In terms of money, I wouldn’t be too fussed in terms of what fee we get for him.

“It is nothing against Niall Ennis, it is just one of those where financially, he didn’t come in for much, and I think it is best for him to go and get game time and potentially show what he is made of.

“Being 25, he is nowhere near the end of his career and still has loads to come, it is just one of them where he needs to find the game time, find that form, and maybe dropping down a league is what he needs to do.”