Ade back to Stoke?

Reports this weekend have been linking Sheffield United’s Ade Akinbiyi with a loan move back to the Potteries.

The former Stoke favourite moved to Burnley for £600,000 in Feb 2005 after falling out with the old Icelandic board and subsequently moved on to Sheffield United last season in a Blades’ record signing of £1.75m.

With Sheffield United now in the Prem, Ade has found it hard to secure a regular first team spot and Neil Warnock has suggested that he may consider loaning him out.

Derby and Burnley are also reported to be interested, but with the change of owners, the return of Akinbiyi’s mentor, Tony Pulis and the fact that he still lives in the Stafford area there will be high hopes at Stoke that he would favour another stint at the Britannia.

Certainly Stoke need all the help they can muster at the moment to try and claw their way back up the table. With Fuller, Pericard, Sidibe and Bangoura all after a place in the front-line, Ade’s potential reintroduction to the line-up could help stir the selection pot and appease some fans.

Let’s hope Tony Pulis also has some names in mind for midfield…..