Ryan Hedges is hoping his goal against former club Everton on Tuesday will help him get back in Barnsley’s first team after one league start in a year.
The 23-year-old winger has been at Oakwell for almost two years but has only started nine league matches, with 29 substitute appearances, while his only league start since November 2017, was at Middlesbrough in March under Jose Morais. The Wales international has been hampered by several injuries but is now back to full fitness and scored Barnsley’s goal in their 1-1 draw with Everton under 21s in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday before they won on penalties.
Hedges told the Chronicle: “It’s been a hard time for me and I haven’t started much. But I can only try to show the manager what I can do with performances like that. As a footballer you just want to be playing so it has been frustrating because I feel I haven’t played enough. Hopefully now I can kick on and prove I should be starting.Watching the lads play the way they have this season has been nice but I know I can contribute a lot more now.”
Hedges, naturally a winger, believes he offers a different style of play to attacking midfielders Mike Bahre, George Moncur and Brad Potts who have been playing in a 4-2-3-1. He said: “I think I can definitely bring something different to the team, it’s another option in our attack and hopefully, in the coming games, it could be used.”
Head coach Daniel Stendel, who is yet to start Hedges in a league match, has played him at left-back several times including on Tuesday. Assistant Andreas Winkler said: “I don’t think he was delighted to play as left-back. But there was a plan behind that because he can attack on the left wing. We think he can play there.”
Hedges added: “It is obviously not my preferred position but, as long as I am on the pitch, it’s a chance to show what I can do. It’s something pretty new to me but I am learning it every day. Whether I am at left-back or on the wing, I will try to attack and contribute. The manager does throw some curveballs now and then to keep us on our toes.”
Hedges was released by Everton aged 15 so enjoyed scoring against their under 21s side in a competition which Barnsley won at Wembley in 2016. He said: “There were a few people there who coached me when I was coming through and it was nice to see some old faces and to show what I can do against a former club. It was nice to get a win and to try and progress in that competition.
“There were a lot of players who needed gametime, myself included, and it was nice to get some minutes. It is always good to score. No player would turn down a trip to Wembley. We’re in the competition to win it. It would be great for the club and fans to get another Wembley trip.”
