Baker-Richardson out to haunt former club
COVENTRY City academy graduate Courtney Baker-Richardson will be out to haunt his former club this weekend.
The Coventry-born striker made his Sky Blues debut under Steven Pressley in 2013 but was shown the door the following summer.
From there he went from pillar to post in Non-League as he tried to find his feet in football.
And he did just that with nearby Leamington FC where he caught the attention of Swansea City scouts after scoring 21 goals in 62 outings.
The Swans snapped him up for a bargain price and Baker-Richardson was now a Premier League footballer.
But injuries have this time hindered his development and now the 23-year-old has been shipped out on loan to Accrington Stanley, where he has returned to action just in time to face his former club.
“It’s a relief to come back,” he said after Accrington’s 5-2 win over Liverpool in the Checkatrade Trophy, scoring on his return.
“I have managed to come back three weeks earlier from the injury than expected which is always good.
“I have come back here, settled back with the lads again and I am trying to get myself back fit again.
“I got 45 minutes [against Liverpool] and I just have to break myself in gently.
“Every striker needs their first goal and fingers crossed it will roll on from there.”
Baker-Richardson never played a league game for Coventry with his sole appearance coming in a 3-1 League Cup defeat to Hartlepool United.
But he was tipped for great things in Sky Blue and fans were surprised to see him go.
“Thankfully, I am a very positive person and knew I would come back stronger,” he continued.
“I love football. I want to do my best anywhere I am. Accrington have been good to me, everyone has been welcoming. I got a good reception from the fans and I appreciate that. Hopefully, I can repay them with goals and wins.
He added: “I am now looking forward to the future and hopefully, by the end of the season, I will have a nice goal tally on my CV.”