Keith Treacy admits he may only be able to manage 'a few minutes' of both Barnsley's games this week but hopes to play a crucial part in their season.

 

The 25-year-old winger, who played 31 games for Burnley during their promotion to the Premier League last season, signed a two-year deal with the Reds on on Wednesday. The Republic of Ireland international, who has been at both Sheffield clubs, has been training on his own since being released by the Clarets in May but is behind the rest of the Reds squad in terms of fitness.

 

"Starting on Saturday (against Crawley) is realistically out of my grasp and probably Tuesday (against Crewe) is as well," said Treacy.

 

"If I am lucky I might get a couple of minutes in both those games. I am working with Nathan (Winder, sport scientist) doing double sessions. It's just about building up the training sessions and the games and then, in a few weeks, I will have hopefully caught up. I don't want to go too fast and pull a muscle then miss two or three months."

 

Treacy said he was first contacted by Barnsley at the end of last season but wanted to return to his hometown of Dublin for a summer break before making a decision on his future.

 

He said: "The promotion run-in with Burnley then getting released left me quite drained.  I wanted a break to enjoy what we'd achieved. I needed time with my family."

 

Treacy is now back living in Lancashire – although he plans to move to Sheffield – and was visited by Danny recently.

 

"It was nice for him to come and meet me. He made me want to come to Barnsley. Every time I have played at Oakwell as an opposition player I have never enjoyed it. That says something about the team and the fans. There's obviously something about the place and I wanted to be part of it."

 

Only Martin Cranie and Ross Turnbull are older than Treacy's age of 25. He said:  "I got into the dressing room and text my missus saying 'I feel old.' The average age is 21 so I'm four years older than that. I will help with my experience in any way I can but I'm still learning myself."