Mike Bahre says he is now used to English football and believes the next step in his development is to finally get on the scoresheet for Barnsley.
The 23-year-old German attacking midfielder has started 11 matches, coming off the bench in four others, since signing from Hannover 96 on a loan deal with a permanent transfer arranged for next summer.
Bahre said: “It has not been easy. I am not used to playing so many games, but I am getting used to that and to the power and speed of English football. A couple of weeks ago my body felt tired. I have the style of a German player but I am much more used to English football now than when I came to Barnsley.
“I know how to play in League One, which I think is a bit different to the Championship because there are a lot of long balls and the play is very intense.”
The club’s data reveals Bahre has run more per minute than any other player so far this season but he knows the most important statistics for an attacker are goals. He said: “I have always been fit and I always run for the whole game.
"It’s a good sign and I am feeling fitter than when I arrived. It is important to run to create spaces, but it’s more important to get goals and assists. I had a couple of chances in the last games but I still didn’t score.
“I just need to score one time then many more will come. Maybe I need a little bit of luck for my first goal. It will give me a lot more self-confidence. I am a selfless player who tries to set up his team-mates but maybe I need to be a little bit more selfish. The gaffer (Daniel Stendel) has said ‘you need to score, you need to score’ and I think I will in the next couple of games.”
In Germany, football stops the weekend before Christmas and resumes in mid-January but Barnsley are due to play on Boxing Day, December 29 and New Year’s Day. Bahre said: “It will be very new for me but I am looking forward to it. It is not a problem because I feel fit.”
Bahre is looking forward to tomorrow’s FA Cup game at Southend, saying: “Everybody who is interested in football knows the FA Cup, it is the oldest competition in the world. It has even more value than the cup in Germany and it has always been my dream to play in it. Our big goal is to get into the next round when the Premier League teams join us.”
