Ryan Hedges would like to stay at Barnsley and hopes a strong end to the season could help to secure him a new contract. Hedges, who has started just 12 league games in two and half years at Oakwell, is out of contract in the summer.
Former chief executive Gauthier Ganaye said he was one of several players to reject new deals last summer. Hedges said: “We haven’t had massive discussions. There were a couple of mentions with Gauthier but nothing after he left. I would like to stay, I really enjoy the club.”
The 23-year-old made just his fourth league start of the season for the Reds this week after impressing on international duty for Wales who gave him a third cap. The left winger played a part in each of Barnsley’s goals in their 2-2 draw with Coventry City on Saturday. Hedges has been involved in just 16 of second-placed Barnsley’s 40 League One games this season under Daniel Stendel, with 12 of those appearances being from the bench.
“I haven’t played as much as I wanted to but these things happen in football. I am just looking forward to the last six games. It’s not been nice to be missing out. As a footballer all you want to do is be on the pitch. Watching from the sides has been hard on me and there have been tough times and a lot of lows but hopefully I can give the fans some highs in the next few weeks. Chances have been limited for me to play and a few injuries I have had haven’t helped.
“I have found it difficult to fit into the manager’s plans but I have made sure I can press and be defensively solid to fit into what he asks of the players. I just want to take the form I showed on Saturday and be confident in my game. It would mean the world to get promoted and release a few demons after last season when we shouldn’t have been relegated with the squad we had.”
Hedges was delighted to make his first start for Wales last month despite having barely featured for his club. He said: “Ryan Giggs showed a lot of faith in me and when he started me he told me I was there on merit. I did well and took that form back to Barnsley.”
