"Somewhere like Barnsley" - Stoke City: 2023 arrival tipped to leave in January | OneFootball

The striker has found minutes hard to come by since joining the Potters but could find some reprieve in January.

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...

The 2024/25 season has not quite played out how many Stoke City supporters will have hoped it would and their team are anguishing towards the lower end of the table.

Consistency has been hard to come by ever since Narcis Pelach took over the helm at the bet365 Stadium from Steven Schumacher in September, and wins have been few and far between.

The January transfer window will allow the Spaniard the opportunity to bring in some of his own players that will fit his system more. However, there may also be the option for Stoke to let go of some of their fringe players who are struggling for game-time, despite their team's difficulties so far in the Championship this season.

Niall Ennis named as player to let go of in January

Tom Cannon has been on fire for the Potters since joining on loan from Leicester City in the summer, and there is a need for another creative force behind him to allow him to score even more than he already has.

With the striking position filled, it would not be a surprise to see one of those who is not receiving ample minutes on the pitch leave.

Football League World has asked their Stoke Fan Pundit, Sam Harrison, which player he believes is desperate to move on in the January window, either on loan or permanently.

He told FLW: "I think a player that might be sold in January or is going to have a move away in January is someone that just hasn't had gametime and I can't see him having gametime and it's Niall Ennis.

"It's tough with Ennis because I think he’s still 25, so he's not near the end of his career by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he just needs to drop down to a lower league to even to a team like Plymouth where he was at before, and just get a run of games where he's actually starting because he hasn't started for Stoke.

"It's a tough one, I don't think there's anything bad between him and Narcis Pelach. I think it's just the style and the tactical approach that Pelach wants to implement, maybe Ennis doesn't follow that or doesn't offer that. So, I do think come January he will be moved on."

Sam continued: "I know obviously he was linked with Barnsley, and I think that would be a good move to a place where he can actually play football, actually get minutes and maybe kick on from there. But I do think just for himself and for the club, I think it just works both ways.

"He of course scored for Stoke when we played against Blackburn but hasn't managed to find the form or get the goals that obviously he or Stoke would have liked, but I do just think it's a right move for him.

"He's a player that runs his socks off, but I think right now going to somewhere like Barnsley, who are a high-end League One side. I think that's a suitable move for him."

Ennis was excellent during his last season in League One

Stoke are Ennis' third new permanent club in three seasons, but he has struggled at both Blackburn Rovers and the Potters, and has found the step-up to the Championship hard.

In his last season in League One, he found the back of the net 12 times, registering five assists as he helped Plymouth to the title.

He was fantastic in the latter half of the campaign, and his goals in the final few weeks ensured that the Pilgrims returned to the Championship for the first time in over a decade.

Dropping back down to the division could be the perfect way for Ennis to get himself firing once again, and prove that he can be a clinical striker. At 25, he has plenty of time left in his career to get back to the second tier, but he must find form elsewhere first.