He spent the 2020–21 season on loan to Scottish Premiership club Ross County, before leaving Birmingham on a permanent basis for Burton Albion in August 2021.

[4] Lakin was a regular in the under-23s in the 2017–18 season, and was one of two players selected to train with UE Cornellà's first team in October 2017 as part of a proposed relationship between Birmingham City and the Spanish Segunda División B (third-tier) club.

[9] His involvement with Birmingham's first team increased, and on 27 January 2018, he was given a squad number and included among the substitutes for the FA Cup fourth-round visit to Premier League club Huddersfield Town.

[12] According to the Birmingham Mail, on his first involvement in the match, "he gathered possession on the edge of his own area, surged through his half and threaded a superb pass to Jota which set Blues away on the counter", showing the "sort of technical ability which has made him such a big hit in his first full season at Under 23 level.

[14] Lakin made his next appearance in the defeat to Reading in the 2018–19 EFL Cup, and his Football League debut in the next match, replacing Gary Gardner towards the end of a goalless draw at home to Swansea City.

[15] His first league start came in a goalless draw away to Sheffield United on 19 September, partnering Gardner in central midfield; the Birmingham Mail marked him 7.5 out of 10, and said he "gave his first pass away – but that was virtually his last mistake.

[36] He was a regular in the starting eleven throughout his loan spell, scored eight goals from 21 league appearances,[34] and, according to the club website, "[played] a huge part in keeping our fight against relegation going to the final week of the season.

[38] He scored his first goal on 3 September in the EFL Trophy against Birmingham City, his former club; the match ended 1–1, and Walsall won the penalty shoot-out to secure the extra point.