Manchester United have confirmed that they have recalled striker Joe Hugill following his loan spell at League Two side Barnet.
The 22-year-old has only made six appearances for the fourth tier side this season, with only two of those being starts. Both of those outings came in August.
This was the fifth loan move for the forward so far in his career after spells at the likes of Altrincham, Burton Albion, Wigan Athletic and Carlisle United. Hugill gathered a reputation in the Red Devils youth team for his goalscoring ability although, so far during his loan spells, this has yet to be seen consistently. His five temporary stints have garnered nine goals in 70 appearances.
Another Loan Move or Permanent Departure?
Whilst Manchester United did not clarify the immediate plan for the striker, there is no doubt that with his contract up at the end of the season, his next move must be the right move. One option that the Premier League side may choose is to loan him out to another EFL club however, it must be a side that can guarantee Hugill gametime.
A League Two side that may suit him is Fleetwood Town, as they are a side short on attacking options following the departure of Ryan Graydon and a season-ending injury to Lewis McCann.
Furthermore, considering Hugill’s impressive goal scoring record at youth level, a side which creates a large number of chances may suit him best, and the Cod Army have created the eighth most chances in the division. Therefore, this is a move which could suit both parties.
Another option that he may choose is to follow in the footsteps of former teammates Sam Mather and Maxi Oyedele, who both struggled on loan at EFL clubs and opted to move abroad to progress their careers.
What Does This Mean For Barnet?
After winning the National League title last season, Barnet initially signed Hugill on a season-long loan, and he drew comparisons to highly regarded English strikers from manager Dean Brennan, who said:
“He’s tall, his movements and attributes are all in behind.”
“He’s got pace, excellent finisher, very dynamic – we want him to look down the barrel of the goal.”
“He’s such an exciting player, he’s like a Jamie Vardy / Michael Owen type.”
At this current point in the season, the Bees sit in 11th place in League Two and are just five points outside the play-off spots. As the attacker struggled for game time, this does not suggest that Barnet will be looking for a replacement in this January transfer window.
Brennan’s side currently have plenty of options at the top end of the pitch, with Lee Ndlovu, Oliver Hawkins, and Britt Assombalonga, who have all featured in recent matchday squads. However, this may change as speculation grows around winger Ryan Glover.