Cardiff Defender extends U's deal

Chris Barker has officially extended his loan period with Colchester United until the end of the season. The defender has been on-loan in Essex for most of the season but had been training with Cardiff for part of the week also.

The deal will now see him extend his successful loan until the end of the season where he will most likely make a permanent switch from Cardiff City. Barker's arrival coincided with a remarkable turn in fortunes for the U's and they have risen up the table rapidly to sit in 6th place, two positions above Cardiff.

The former Barnsley defender signed for Cardiff in the summer of 2002 for £600k making him one of Cardiff`s longest serving player. A powerful and solid player, he appeared mostly at left back for City but making several appearances in the centre. Barker has been reliable and consistent whenever he played for City and won the player of the season award for the 2004-2005 Championship season after a short loan spell at Stoke City got Barker fitter and playing better than ever before.

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