Stockport County have found their answer to Louie Barry – and it isn’t in a new signing | OneFootball

Many questioned how the Hatters would replace the Aston Villa loanee – the answer may already have been at the club

A pre-season theme for Stockport County was how the club would replace the early goals and direct running that Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry provided at the start of last term.

Many wondered whether the Hatters may seek another Premier League loanee, or whether the club could even attract Barry back to the club for a third spell.

That wasn’t possible, with the 22-year-old heading out to Sheffield United instead.

But County may now have found their solution, not in Barry or a new signing, but in Jack Diamond.

Diamond showed shades of Barry against Wycombe Wanderers

Starting the season much like Barry did 12 months ago, County’s no.7 had a hand in both goals against Wycombe Wanderers, which ultimately delivered the three points to the Hatters.

The assist came less than 10 minutes into the game, when Diamond found a gap in the Chairboys’ backline in a relatively central position, excellently controlling Ethan Pye’s lobbed pass on his chest, before racing into the box and picking out Kyle Wootton to finish.

Not content with just that contribution, on the other side of half-time, Diamond picked up the ball inside his own half and accelerated towards Wycombe’s box, putting his opposition defenders on the back foot.

Wanderers withdrew all the way to their own penalty area, standing firm in the belief that they had the goal behind cover, but Diamond paused and picked out the top corner of the goal with an inch-perfect curled effort, the sort of daring, improvised effort that Barry garnered so much attention for.

Wycombe performance followed a solid opening-day contribution from Diamond

Diamond will be happy to have attached his name to the headline stat against Wycombe in such spectacular fashion, as he had a promising opening game against Bolton Wanderers without the same plaudits.

His away showing against the Chairboys was undoubtedly the pick of the pair, but the 25-year-old also completed the most dribbles (2) of any player on the pitch against the Trotters.

Challinor talks a lot about needing ball carriers in his squad, being already blessed with strong and physical players who can hold the ball and pull off a pass.

In registering the most dribbles in County’s two opening league games, Diamond has proved he can be that man, and against Wycombe, he showed how devastating he can be when used as an attacking outlet.

The forward is not new to County fans

These early-season showings are not the former Sunderland man bursting onto the scene, however. County fans are already well aware of his talents.

He made 32 League One appearances for the Hatters last term, registering five goals and two assists: certainly not to be sniffed at.

But that only 16 of those outings were as part of the starting XI tells its own story: Diamond was seen as a quality attacker who could change a game on his day, but not a forward to be relied on week in, week out.