Chris Popov’s excellent week continues with the Leicester City striker earning a season-long loan move to League Two side Barrow.
The 19-year-old Welshman made his City debut as a substitute on Tuesday night as they overcame Tranmere 4-0. Now he joins Tranmere’s League Two rivals Barrow until the end of the season, giving him a chance to get plenty more senior minutes under his belt.
Since joining from Manchester United’s academy as a 16-year-old, Popov has had a frustrating time with injury, but has been able to show his promise when fit, the striker earning comparisons to Jamie Vardy for his speed and relentless pressing. He scored 19 goals in 31 games for the club’s Under-18s before stepping up to the Under-21s over past couple of seasons, and has since netted five times in 31 outings, including in the opening game of the current Premier League 2 campaign.
That goal earned him a place in Cooper’s squad for the fixture with Tranmere and he came close to a goal-scoring debut. Kasey McAteer’s pass across the six-yard took a slight nick on its way through and caught out the teenager.
At Barrow he will hope to be among the goals. The Bluebirds have made a positive start to the campaign, taking six points from nine to sit fourth in the League Two table, while they knocked Championship side Derby out of the Carabao Cup on penalties in midweek to reach the third round of the competition for the first time since 1967-68.
