Louie Annesley said a loan move to Barnet had been in the makings for some time, leaving him delighted when the deal got over the line.

The central defender could make his competitive debut for the Bees in this weekend’s FA Cup second round tie at Accrington Stanley having signed on a one-month loan deal on Tuesday.

That came in time for the 22-year-old, fresh from international duty with Gibraltar, to get minutes under his belt in the Middlesex Senior Cup, but his debut is expected to come against John Coleman’s side today.

The deal includes an option to buy, which could bring an end to Annesley’s three-year stay at Ewood Park following his signing from Lincoln Red Imps in January 2019.

“I was delighted to get it done, it’s been in the pipeline for a while,” Annesley said.

“I’m really happy to be on board.

“I’ve been here before and having had a few chats with the gaffer it really attracted me.

“They’re doing well in the league, winning football matches, and that’s what I want to do.

“I’m delighted to be here.”

Annesley has won 35 caps for Gibraltar, while he made his senior debut for Rovers in the Carabao Cup second round win over Bradford City in August.

He signed a new two-year deal at Rovers last summer, but hasn’t been made able to make the breakthrough into the first-team.

That saw the club facilitate a loan move to National League side Woking in January, where he made 15 appearances in the second half of last season, and now a move to the Bees.

He is no stranger to the club, having spent time with Barnet as a teenager before his move to Gibraltar and is delighted to be back at The Hive.

The Bees are riding high in the National League, sitting sixth in the table, but take a break from league action this weekend to face Stanley in the FA Cup second round.

“They’re the games you want to play in, be involved in,” Annesley said.

“It’s to continue winning football matches, that’s what all the boys are looking to do, and it’s been clear that’s been the plan from the first day I came here.”

Annesley started both of Gibraltar’s matches in the November international break which saw them record back-to-back wins over Andorra and Liechtenstein.

His international experience has enabled him to play against some of the top strikers in Europe, and Annesley said: “Every game I play there helps me a lot.

“It’s the highest level and hopefully I can take that into these games.”

Annesley’s loan spell will take in five matches in all, running to December 20, after which Barnet will face a call over his future and whether to take up the option to buy in the deal.

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