Stockport County will have key Norwich City wish on Exeter City evidence | OneFootball

It seems likely the Hatters will have to wave goodbye to a much-loved loanee at the end of the season

Stockport County will already have been wishing they could keep Norwich City loanee Brad Hills and his performance against Exeter City will have done nothing to dampen that dream.

The 21-year-old has been a revelation since landing at Edgeley Park in January to assist the Hatters’ threadbare defensive unit.

Given his age and performance levels at County so far, it seems unlikely County any wish to keep Hills will be granted.

But one course of events could give them a glimmer of hope.

Hills showed why he’s become so important for County against Exeter

There was plenty to praise from County’s trip to St James Park: Wootton’s instinctive goalscoring, the creativity provided by Jack Diamond and Jayden Fevrier – both of whom have had to be patient for their chances this season – and the ever-evolving game of Tanto Olaofe as he grows into this League One season at just the right time.

That, and the fact that it has now become the norm, is likely why Hills’ performance wasn’t the first thing on fans’ lips.

But having successfully made the most tackles in the game (5) and won the most duels (10) it is certainly a performance worth noting.

Not only that, Hills was playing in an adapted right-back role as manager Dave Challinor sought to switch up his formation to add in an extra attacker.

The County boss has a fluid approach to formations and setups, so Hills' ability to pick up a new brief and still put in such a strong defensive performance only adds to his appeal.

The Hatters are unlikely to be in the running for Hills in the summer

The problem with such a strong loan spell is it only serves to make any permanent deal at the end of it more difficult.

Hills has a contract at Norwich running until 2027, with the option of an additional year, putting them firmly in the driving seat for any negotiations in the summer.

That in itself is likely an academic point; the chances of the club wanting to let go of a young player who showed so much promise last season in League Two for Accrington Stanley, and has turned it up a notch in League One this term, are slim.

For any permanent move, it would surely take a bid so hefty to make Norwich think that County would never truly be in the race.

But Hills’ current career progression suggests one glimmer of hope, under specific circumstances, that Hatters fans could get to see the defender in a blue and white shirt beyond the summer.

Play-off success could tempt Hills back to Edgeley Park

Hills kicked off his senior career on loan with Accrington last season and, after struggling to break into Norwich’s first team, has landed in League One with the Hatters this season.

Given Norwich will be aiming towards the top of the Championship table in the next campaign, they may see another loan to the lower end of the second tier, where Hills is likely to get more regular game time, as the next natural progression towards bringing him into the Canaries’ set-up properly.

Nine points clear of seventh-placed Reading in League One, the Hatters look nailed on for a play-off place, barring an absolute collapse.

If they managed to find a route through the lottery of the play-offs and into the Championship, then they’d be the perfect landing spot for Hills if Norwich see another loan as a suitable next step.

A manager, squad and club that he now knows, in the Championship, where his reputation likely guarantees more minutes than another club where he’d have to go in, adjust and prove himself again.

Barring those very specific circumstances with, admittedly, more than a few variables, it’s likely that any County dreams of having Hills at Edgeley Park beyond this summer will remain just that: a dream.