Barnet FC can confirm that George Sykes has agreed a deal to join Bishop’s Stortford on loan until January 1st.

The young striker was made available for loan at the beginning of this month by manager Martin Allen in a bid to aid the 19-year-old’s development, and will join the Vanarama Conference South side ahead of their game away to St Alban’s tomorrow.

Commenting on the deal this afternoon, Sykes, who made his senior debut for the Bees in August 2012, said:

“It is good to know what I am doing for the next few months now. I feel like I have had a good pre-season behind me and I think it is important for me to go away and get games and prove myself as much as I can.

“That’s the aim for me, to score as many as I can and put in some good performances. It is really important that I come back a better player to when I arrive.”

Sykes is no stranger to Bishop’s Stortford having spent three months on loan with the Blues at the beginning of last season, scoring two goals in eleven appearances, and believes that the experience will help him hit the ground running this time around:

“I trained with them last night and I already know the people there so hopefully it will be easy for me to settle straight in.

“It should make it a bit easier for me, so hopefully I can kick on straight away starting tomorrow.”

When announcing his decision to make the youngster available for loan three weeks ago, Martin Allen described it as “a step forward for George and not a step backwards,” sentiments that the Scottish U19 international says were echoed today when discussing the opportunity:

“Martin has told me that he wants me to go away and get games in men’s football as much as I can and hopefully that can help with my development moving forward.

“It is good to know that is the way that he sees it because I see it like that. I’m not just going out because I’m surplus to requirements, it is for my development and hopefully I’ll come back a better player and be able to push my way into the first team here.”

Everybody at Barnet FC would like to wish George the very best of luck during his time with the Bishops and we look forward to welcoming him back to The Hive soon.