OBBI Oulare was delighted to finally make his Barnsley debut last week and is hoping to give them a different option up front.
The 25-year-old Belgian striker joined from Standard Liege in the summer but, after a delay due to visa issues and back problems, he made his debut off the bench for 15 minutes in the 2-0 loss at Middlesbrough. That was his first action since December last year.
Oulare told the Chronicle: “It was frustrating because, when I signed, I thought I was going to start training and have four or five weeks to be ready for the first game in Cardiff.
“Then I heard about the visa so I went back to Belgium.
“I had back problems as well so it was not easy. But all that is behind me now.
“My family have been upset because they know how hard the last year has been and how long I have been waiting. But I told them I had been waiting since December so a few more weeks wouldn’t kill me.
“It was hard for me to watch the games in the stadium or at home and not be able to help the team. But I was happy to make my debut and I hope I can play more games.”
Oulare – who was then an unused substitute for Sunday’s 3-2 home loss to Sheffield United – is six foot four and could allow Barnsley to play a more direct style, after struggling using Markus Schopp’s passing approach.
“I am used to both styles. Actually most of the teams I have played for played good football, but I am a big guy so I can play a long ball style.
“We will see how it goes in the coming games. You need different players because you have to adapt to your opponents.”
Oulare’s shirt number of 58 is inspired by his father Souleymane, who netted that amount of goals for Genk in the 1990s.
“When I signed for Brugge they gave me that number and nobody knew. For me, it was a sign and it is a lucky number.”
On coming off the bench at Middlesbrough, Oulare said: “It was a great feeling. I felt like a child. It was has been ten months and I really missed that matchday feeling and the adrenaline.”
Oulare admits he is not fully matchfit yet but hopes to contribute in the coming week, with the likes of Mads Andersen, Carlton Morris and Josh Benson also returning to fitness.
“My head is ready to go, but we will see about my body.
“Hopefully I will be fit enough really soon to play more.
“With me, Carlton, Josh and Mads coming back, it will help everybody.”
The Reds are in the Championship relegation zone after six successive defeats.
Asked about under-pressure head coach Markus Schopp, Oulare said: “We have to be behind him.
“If we don’t we are not helping him or ourselves because we’re bottom of the league.”
