Loan duo bolster push for the title
ADOUBLE signing boosted League Two leaders Stockport County this week, as Aston Villa forward Rico Richards and Manchester United defender Rhys Bennett penned loan deals at Edgeley Park until the end of the season.
Amid a demoralising injury crisis in the Hatters camp, which has seen ten senior members of the squad ruled out in recent weeks, the table toppers moved to make a double addition and provide a welcomed shot in the arm via the two Premier League prospects.
County first batted away interest from League One and League Two sides to secure the first loan spell of 20-yearold Richards’ fledgling career, as the versatile attacker makes the temporary move from Villa Park.
Like his Villans team-mate Louie Barry, who has taken Edgeley Park by storm this season, Richards comes to The Hatters with Challinor and Director of Football Simon Wilson “excited” by the potential of the former West Brom youngster.
A regular in Villa’s U23s side this campaign, Richards played in all three of their RFL Trophy group stage outings, scoring and assisting in their clash with Crawley Town in November.
“I’m delighted to welcome Rico to the club, and hopefully he’ll have a similar impact to another Villa loanee that we’ve had,” said Challinor.
“It’s Rico’s first loan but he is highly thought of and has the ball carrying ability that we don’t currently have in the squad at present.
“He can play off either side or as an attacking midfield player but we are really confident that he will impact our squad and get the supporters off their seats.”
Richards is joined at Edgeley Park by promising Old Trafford talent Bennett.
The 20-year-old central defender makes the move until the end of the campaign from The Red Devils, having trained with The Hatters last season at their Carrington base as part of a scheme between the two clubs.
The young centre-half captained the United side which won the FA Youth Cup in 2022, with Bennett scoring in the final against Nottingham Forest in front of a record crowd of 67,000 at Old Trafford.
Having impressed during his time so far with the Premier League giants, Bennett earned a new contract with the club in the summer before making the move to The Hatters to provide much-needed competition for places.
“Rhys is someone we know and who knows us,” said Challinor. “He spent a couple of months with us last season as part of an arrangement we had with Man United to get some younger players into our environment to train.
“It’s fair to say he made a lasting impression on all of the staff, not just in terms of his ability, but as a character and personality in being mature and having an understanding of the game.
“When the opportunity came to bring him back in, especially due to our current situation, it was something we were all keen to do and it’s great to have him back with us.”
After last Saturday’s postponed trip to Notts County due to a frozen pitch at Meadow Lane, The Hatters – who stayed top of the League Two pile due to Newport County’s 1-0 win over secondplaced Wrexham at Rodney Parade – go on to make the journey to Doncaster Rovers this Saturday.