Town boss Kieran McKenna says he is speaking with on-loan Aston Villa forward Louie Barry about the best option for the 18-year-old going forward, the youngster having appeared very fleetingly in the first half of the campaign.

Barry has made only four starts, just one in the league, and two sub appearances for Town having signed on loan in August.

The former West Brom and Barcelona youngster’s last appearance for the Blues came in the Papa John’s Trophy tie against Colchester in early November with his previous action a month prior to that in the same competition at Gillingham.

As a result, the England U18 international has been widely tipped for a return to Villa Park in January with the Premier League side then expected to send him out for another spell, with League Two Swindon reportedly keen.

Asked about the Sutton Coldfield-born attacker’s situation, McKenna said: “Louie’s been training with us. He’s been training well. Louie is a player I know from watching academy football and watching England youths.

“He’s obviously a talented boy. He hasn’t played as much football as he would have hoped to have done but also will have learned an awful lot from his first move. I’ve had a couple of good discussions with him.

“I think the first loan move is very often about the experiences that you pick up off the pitch and everyone at the club speaks very highly of Louie and how he has conducted himself, and he’s positive about the experience that he’s had.

“We’re having conversations with Louie and he’s training with us, and we’re continuing to speak to him about what the best option for him is going forward.”

Photo: ITFC

azuremerlangus added 14:56 - Dec 28 Sounds like he is on his way to somewhere else
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Bazza8564 added 15:02 - Dec 28 To be fair to the lad unless you're planning to shed a few from the squad gaffer and create some opportunity for him, we'd be better off letting him leave with a thank you and a big sorry. Shame, I watched him run the game against Newport and he was just getting into his stride against Burton and Cook hauled him off never to be seen again
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jas0999 added 15:24 - Dec 28 Wasn't really given a chance here. Sounds like he will return to AV. Good luck to the lad.
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Suffolkboy added 15:27 - Dec 28 Do like the manner and essence of what KM has to say ; makes for easy reading and leaves a positive impression ! COYB
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bluewarrior added 15:40 - Dec 28 Clearly extremely talented but a bit lightweight for this (horrible) division - same with Coulson.
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therein61 added 15:42 - Dec 28 Good luck young man wherever you play next it was unfortunate for you that you were one of 19 arrivals which limited your chances.
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OldFart71 added 16:25 - Dec 28 I think the biggest problem we have with taking young players on loan is that the current criteria for the club is promotion, maybe not this season, who knows. But when you are pushing for promotion you haven't got time to make someone else's youngster into a proper player. You need proper players straight away. Unfortunately due to one reason or another PC never managed to produce a team which meant that Barry was never going to figure. Not sure Villa would have been happy with that situation and it's surprising they haven't recalled him.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:28 - Dec 28 As we are "continuing to speak to him about what the best option for him is going forward," I wouldn't say it is cut and dried that he will be moving on. Admittedly, that may be the most likely interpretation, but on the other hand, McK might feel he has something to offer us and would like him to stay a bit longer.
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istanblue added 17:11 - Dec 28 Should be playing. The new Jack Grealish!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:08 - Dec 28 Not bothered either way seen him in games even McKennas not that sure about him playing. If he's the ‘next Jack grealish' as people say why's he not near or in their first team? Gerrard has promoted 5 youngsters since being there why not him so maybe a minority on here need to play less FIFA and coke up with a reasonable reason why he can't get in our first team if he's as good as people say he is as I've yet to see it in games. Possibly another who is better suited to top championship side but fact we're taking about him going to a league two club kind of sums it up

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