"Cardiff have been in touch with us and say they want Chris back", said Stoke boss Tony Pulis. "We would have preferred him to stay because he has played very well, but we have no choice. We are working on bringing someone else to replace him."
Barker was loaned out so he could get first team action elsewhere but his chances of making the City team are higher now with the injury to Gary Croft that will see him out for several more weeks.
City were strugging for numbers with no recognised full back cover.