Credit Graham Burrell
Stockport County’s difficult week continues, with the news that Everton loanee Tyler Onyango has picked up an injury.
In the midweek loss at Bradford City, a result which was a big blow to their chances of gaining automatic promotion, Onyango was replaced early in the second period.
And it has been revealed that this setback will rule him out for the remainder of the campaign, ending his time with the Hatters.
Manager Dave Challinor gave Stockport supporters some better news on the fitness of another loanee in the aftermath of Tuesday’s loss in West Yorkshire.
“What I will say & won’t hide away from, it’ll be good to get Cogs (Josh Dacres-Cogley) back because he’ll start. Tayo (Edun) got a whack on the head so touch & go, but if Josh Stokes is fit, he’ll start too.”
It’s not the first time that Onyango has had a loan spell cut short at Edgeley Park. Last season, the 22-year-old featured in their first five league matches before dropping out of the side. And after completing the full 90 minutes against Reading in October, he picked up a hamstring injury that prematurely ended this stint.
Incidentally, that is the same issue that he has picked up this season, and that also ended a temporary spell at Forest Green Rovers in 2023. With five senior appearances for the Toffees’ first team, Onyango is going to need better luck with injuries if he is going to stand any chance of a successful career in the English game. With just 726 minutes of league football this season, coupled with his lack of action over the last few years, that feels unlikely at the moment.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Challinor’s preparation for their match against Wigan Athletic will have changed following the arrival of Gary Caldwell as head coach earlier this week.
“I don’t know what to expect right now, it’s the honest answer,” he said. “Gary’s gone in, game tomorrow & quick turnaround. It doesn’t matter what other teams do – we need to be miles better.”
That game referenced by the Hatters boss was Wigan’s victory last night over play-off chasing Luton Town, which moved the Latics out of the relegation zone. It certainly means the outcome of the game isn’t as clear as the table would suggest, and Stockport will be desperate for three points that could revitalise their hopes of finishing inside the top two places.
Stockport Loan Situation
While the loss of Onyango is frustrating, it does mean that Challinor will have less of a headache when it comes to selecting players. Each EFL club are permitted to name five loan players in their matchday squads, but County had eight loanees on their books following their January business. With the Everton loanee now out, and with Louie Barry unlikely to be available until the final knockings of the season, there is now just one player who will miss out each week.
Nathan Lowe returned to Stoke City in January, joining League One rivals Wycombe Wanderers for the remainder of the season. Tanto Olaofe (Charlton Athletic), the above-mentioned Stokes (Bristol City) and Ronan Dixon (Everton) all arrived on temporary deals in the winter window. They join Owen Dodgson, Ben Osborn and Corey Edwards, who were signed on season-long loans in the summer.
Stockport were recently billed as the biggest potential challengers to Lincoln City, but that loss at Bradford on Tuesday evening has seen them fall behind the Bantams. While having a game in hand, a 12-point gap separates the Hatters from the second-place Imps, with a trip to Sincil Bank to come next month. That fixture could still be pivotal in both teams’ seasons, but it would require an incredible effort from this point for the Cheshire outfit to overhaul Lincoln.