Why Blackpool FC have signed Niall Ennis again from Stoke City - Steve Bruce has made it absolutely clear | OneFootball

Steve Bruce was clear in his assessment of why he wanted Niall Ennis to return to Blackpool FC

Blackpool FC have wasted no time in the summer window, turning January loan success into a permanent reunion by re-signing Niall Ennis from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee.

Blackpool's 2024/2025 season ended nine points shy of the play-off places despite boasting the division's fourth-best attack - if Ennis had been there from the start, things could perhaps have looked very different.

The 26-year-old striker has penned a two-year deal with the Seasiders, who also hold an option for a further 12 months - after he scored seven goals in 19 League One outings during his loan spell.

The deal ends a frustrating 18-month spell at Stoke, where he only made fringe appearances before thriving on the Fylde Coast.

Ennis scooped up February's Player of the Month award last season, and head coach Steve Bruce was clear in his assessment of why he wanted Ennis to return.

Steve Bruce made it clear why he pushed hard to get Niall Ennis transfer completed

Steve Bruce's urgency is rooted in simple numbers - Blackpool netted 72 league goals last season, more than six of the eight clubs above them - yet still missed the play-offs because they failed to convert dominance in tight games.

Ennis proved he can shoulder the burden that Blackpool fans are calling for - from his debut on 3rd February to the season's end he averaged a goal involvement every 160 minutes.

Crucially, he already understands Bruce's preferred 4-4-2 and the tactical switch to wing-backs the manager occasionally employs - having thrived in both systems during his loan.

On Ennis rejoining, Bruce had this to say via the clubs official website, "We are delighted to welcome Niall back... he hit the ground running for us last season, making a real impact at the top end of the pitch with some memorable goals."

Those memorable goals include March's Goal of the Month for a solo effort against Crawley Town.

Niall Ennis adds more to the Seasiders' attack than just goals

His goalscoring record for The Tangerines was undoubtedly impressive, but Ennis' value lies in more than raw numbers.

A graduate of Wolves' academy, he built a reputation for relentless pressing and intelligent movement during Plymouth Argyle's 2022/2023 League One title-winning campaign - he scored 12 goals and got five assists for them.

That versatility enables him to play as a lone front man, in a pair or out wide, and four of his seven goals came against top-half opposition, which is exactly the kind of match-winning impact Blackpool lacked in previous games to finish inside the top six.

With a full pre-season to build chemistry and Bruce's earlier insistence that "it's all about the squad, Blackpool now have the chance to work out who pairs best with Ennis out of the likes of Ashley Fletcher and Tom Bloxham.

In short, Bruce has made it abundantly clear that re-signing Niall Ennis was non-negotiable for a club determined to turn promise into promotion - and if the striker's loan form becomes the norm, who's to say Blackpool's long wait for a Championship return may finally be coming to an end.