Kilian Ludewig is delighted to be back at Barnsley and hopes that they can finish at least in mid-table next season. 

The German full-back, who impressed on loan with the Reds from January, has returned on a season-long loan from Red Bull Salzburg.  The 20-year-old, who worked with Oakwell head coach Gerhard Struber in Salzburg, has played for Germany under 20s and made 18 appearances for the Reds.

“I am very happy to be here,” Ludewig told the Chronicle from St George’s Park where he has trained with Barnsley all week. 

“I know the team, I know the gaffer and I know the fans – hopefully they are back soon.  It was an easy decision to come back. I didn’t need time to think about it. 

“Red Bull Salzburg are happy, because the last half of the season was really good for me. It is a good chance for me to play in a good league at a good club.” 

Barnsley spent 311 days in the relegation zone but scored injury-time winners in each of their last two matches to stay in the Championship.  Looking ahead to next season, Ludewig said: “I don’t want another relegation fight. 

“I am here to make a better season than last season and not to fight every game from September until the end of the season against relegation. We made it and now we have the chance to start a good season. 

“We will give everything to be in the middle of the table or maybe more. We have to see what we can do. I hope to improve more as an individual. I had a good 18 games but I hope to keep going. 

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"I have learned a lot.  It was my first professional football and English football is very different to German or Austrian football.”