Former Rotherham United striker Will Hoskins is on trial at Oakwell with a view to signing and Barnsley manager Danny Wilson believes he could net 20 goals for the Reds this season.

 

The 28-year-old, who has not played a competitive game for 17 months following several knee operations, is a free agent after being released by Brighton last month. He started training yesterday and Oakwell medical staff are assessing him before the club decides to sign him or not.

 

Wilson, who had Hoskins on loan at Sheffield United in 2012, told the Chronicle: "Will has got real talent and knows where the goal is. We think we can get him fit and, when he is, he can bag you 20 goals a season.

 

"He had an injury at Brighton and we're more or less sure he's over it. Our staff are making sure he's OK clinically.  If he is OK, we'll have a chat and see if we can come to an agreement.  He needs to prove himself after the injury but I think he will."

 

The former England under 20s frontman has already scored 20 goals in a League One season, for relegated Bristol Rovers in 2010/11. Nottingham-born Hoskins began his career at Rotherham and scored 25 goals in 81 games for the Millers before joining Watford – who were then in the Premier League – with Lee Williamson for a combined fee of £1.2million in 2007.

 

He scored nine goals in 70 games during three years with the Hornets then, after loan spells at Millwall and Nottingham Forest, rejuvenated his career in Bristol. His scoring form earned him a move to Brighton but he has been dogged by injury during his three years in Sussex, bagging once in 18 league games for the Seagulls and twice in 12 for the Blades. His last competitive game was a 1-1 draw between Brighton and Blackburn on February 12, 2013.