As originally reported by Pete O’Rourke on X, Stockport County defender Jid Okeke is set to return to Walsall on loan for the second half of the season.
The 21-year-old was recalled by Stockport after making 18 appearances throughout the first half of the season, scoring once and assisting once from left-wing-back for Mat Sadler’s Walsall side. However, he is now set for a return to the Saddlers for the rest of the season on deadline day. He was recalled at the start of January and made three appearances for Stockport. This included an assist for Benony Andresson in the 96th minute to secure a 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town.
At only 21 years of age, Okeke still has a long career ahead of him. Signing from Oldham in 2023, he could still certainly be seen as one for the future at Edgeley Park. If promotion to the Championship isn’t achieved, he could definitely be part of Dave Challinor’s plans for next season. County currently sit comfortably in the playoffs at the time of writing, so another play-off campaign is very much on the cards. They sit fourth, 6 points behind second-placed Lincoln City and 10 points ahead of seventh-placed Lincoln City. They will be aiming to better last year’s play-off record, where they lost in heartbreaking fashion to Leyton Orient on penalties. The play-offs are a toss of a coin, so they certainly could be in this division next season.
Walsall currently sit 7th in the League Two table as it stands, trailing 3rd-placed Salford City by three points. The Saddlers’ form has dipped as of late, having won once in their last six league games. However, they are unbeaten in their last four games, drawing their last three in the process. The return of Okeke will prove to be a boost for Walsall, however, as they prepare to mount a promotion push.
This is a move that makes all-around sense in my opinion. Okeke clearly isn’t in the full picture at the moment and was a regular starter for Walsall before being recalled. Walsall fans may be delighted with this news ahead of the rest of the season.
