Paul Heckingbottom says George Moncur's loan exit is his only disappointment of an otherwise pleasing transfer deadline day and insists he is not worried about his midfield options.
The Reds were busy ahead of Wednesday's deadline. They sold centre-back Alfie Mawson to Swansea, let Moncur and Shaun Tuton go out on loan, and brought in defenders Cole Kpekawa and Adam Jackson, central midfielder Sam Morsy, winger Saidy Janko and striker Adam Armstrong as well as several development players.
Head coach Heckingbottom says he did not want Moncur to leave, just months after recruiting him for an estimated £550,000 from Colchester United on a three-year contract, but eventually let him join League One Peterborough United on loan until January. The Reds boss says the 23-year-old midfielder and his father John, a former Premier League player, were unhappy that George had not started any of Barnsley's five Championship matches so far this season, coming off the bench only on the opening day at Ipswich.
"If I am honest, I didn't want him to go," Heckingbottom told the Chronicle.
"I said that to George and to his dad. "I said that anything can happen and that he might be playing soon. But they were adamant that he should have game time. We can't just give game time away, it has to be earned by performances.
"With that in mind, we decided to take an opportunity to cover some of the wages of a player who is not starting. He now has the chance to get some games under his belt in League One and come back to us on top form in January."
Barnsley will not be able to recall Moncur, or any of the other loanees, until January and cannot make any further loan signings. Heckingbottom had foreseen Moncur playing in central midfield but the loan to Posh means the Reds now only have new signing Morsy, Conor Hourihane and Josh Scowen as senior players in that position.
The Reds run the risk of having to play an untested youngster such as Callum Evans, who was on the bench on Saturday, or someone out of position in central midfield should two of three get injured or suspended at the same time between now and January. But Heckingbottom – who can still sign unattached free agents – is comfortable with his central midfield options and did not want to stock up on players just for emergencies.
He said: "We could have got another body in just in case we have two players out at some point, but there is no point. Patrick (Cryne, Barnsley owner) told me there was more money to spend if I wanted to, but I didn't feel there was anyone of the right standard. We will only sign players who we think are worth bringing in and we didn't feel we could do that.
"We don't want shirt-fillers at the club knowing they are never going to play unless we get injuries. We could have two central midfielders out, but we could get two injuries at left-back or right-back or any position. If that happens, we will deal with it.
"We have got enough strength in depth. It is up to us as staff to keep the players fit and healthy. A small squad is a good thing in our eyes because you can work closely with everyone and you are not carrying anyone who is not going to play.
"The players have shown they belong in the Championship already this season and we will continue to give the Barnsley fans the kind of team they can believe in and relate to."
Heckingbottom is also confident he has sufficient numbers and quality in defence. Mawson has departed but centre-back Jackson has been brought in to join stalwart Marc Roberts and another summer signing Angus MacDonald while Kpekawa is mainly a left-back who can play in the centre. The Reds have also brought in Spanish centre-back Julio Rodriguez on a season-long loan from Sporting Gijon. The six foot four defender will initially join up with the development squad.
The head coach said: "There's no hiding the fact that Alfie Mawson was a very important player for us and I would have loved to have kept him. But the club got good finances for him and there is a chance for other players to step up. I am happy with our defenders."
The Reds also recruited 20-year-old Jake Charles from Huddersfield, who plays on the wing or up front, for their development squad on a one-year deal. The Wales under 21 international has played once in the Championship.
