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The ex-Villan believes the Rams could help Louie Barry rediscover the form he showed on loan at Stockport County

Sky Sports pundit and ex-Villan Lee Hendrie has backed Derby County to sign Louie Barry from Aston Villa in January, amid reports the Rams are weighing up a potential loan move in January.

The young forward is facing a recall to Villa Park after a difficult spell at Sheffield United, as per the BBC - and John Eustace's side have been credited with interest alongside Championship rivals Stoke City and Oxford United.

Hull City were also apparently eyeing up another temporary move for Barry following his game-time struggles at Bramall Lane, but Hull Live has since reported there is no truth in him going back to East Yorkshire next month.

Barry had previously spent the second-half of last season on loan at the Tigers after being part-way through his second brief spell with Stockport County, though a knee injury that ruled him out for the season ensured he only played for them four times.

What Lee Hendrie has said about Derby County signing Louie Barry from Aston Villa

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Hendrie expressed his belief that Derby would provide the ideal setting for Barry to rediscover the form that made him such a prolific force during his successful spells at Stockport.

"Yeah, it’s been a real struggle for Louie Barry," Hendrie began, reflecting on the forward's difficult period at Sheffield United.

"I think, you know, Chris going back into the football club, he’s changed things - he obviously didn’t bring him in, again whether he fancied him or he doesn’t fancy him, it seems pretty clear he’s not getting as much game time as he would’ve expected," Hendrie added.

In truth, Barry has managed just nine appearances for the Blades this season, six of those being starts, with his playing time severely limited since Chris Wilder's return to the managerial helm in late September.

The 22-year-old has been absent from Blades’ matchday squads in recent weeks, which is perhaps why his parent club Villa are now preparing to terminate his loan deal and send him elsewhere.

Hendrie went on to explain that while Barry's move to United hasn't gone to plan, the potential move to Derby under Eustace could provide him with the platform he requires to flourish.

"So yeah, it’d be likely that he gets called back to the football club and Derby would be a really good fit for him.

"The way Eustace plays at Derby and the players that they have - experienced players around him - might just be a good fit cause we’ve seen what he’s capable of when he was at Stockport," Hendrie continued.

For the Hatters, Barry first managed nine goals and four assists in 20 League Two games in 23/24, before grabbing 15 goals and two assists at the start of 24/25 in the third tier. Last season, he became only the fourth player in history to win the EFL Young Player of the Month award twice.

Derby County loan move could help Louie Barry "get going" in January

With Carlton Morris - Derby's top scorer with ten goals in 16 games - out for ten to twelve weeks through injury, there is every chance the Rams could look to address this in January and bring in another forward.

While Lars-Jørgen Salvesen has stepped into the starting eleven and impressed, scoring the winner against Swansea City in Morris' absence and getting an assist against Middlesbrough, further depth would obviously help if any more injuries were to be picked up to either him or Patrick Agyemang.

Before Morris' injury though, you could argue that the East Midlands outfit were more than content with their options up top - and were probably looking at other areas to strengthen in the winter window instead, yet the aforementioned BBC report suggests that may have changed.

Hendrie concluded his thoughts on a prospective Pride Park move for Barry by saying, "The Hull situation, he got injured, and now this Sheffield United situation where a manager has come and gone pretty quickly who fancied him, and that’s the way football is.

"This will be an opportunity for him to sort of get going and I think Derby would be good, being a bit more local for him as well."

What perhaps makes this interesting is the fact that Barry is comfortable on the left wing and in attacking midfield, not so much as a number nine - so he could compete for Agyemang's position on the left.

Agyemang signed for Derby in the summer, for a fee that could reportedly rise to £7.3m, as a striker, but has regularly played on the left of Morris - and now Salvesen - in Eustace's attack. He seemingly looks better in a slightly wider position, and Barry coming in could provide some depth and competition to that area.

As for Hendrie's earlier words about the experience at Derby helping Barry, 29-year-old Salvesen has already told BBC Radio Derby that Morris is "an inspiration" to him - so the ex-Luton Town striker could have the same effect on a younger forward in Barry if he were to join the club.