A trio of young players included in Barnsley's pre-season first team squad are hoping to take advantage of the lack of strength in depth in their positions and force their way into the League One team.
Winger Dylan Mottley-Henry and striker Victor Adeboyejo both scored in the 7-1 friendly success at York City on Tuesday while Jared Bird has also been involved in the pre-season games.
Bird, 20, is the only holding midfielder currently training with Daniel Stendel's first team squad as the rest of the players in his position are more attack-minded. The former Derby County youngster, who joined the Reds two years ago, has so far played four first team matches and had a 16-game loan spell with League Two Yeovil Town earlier this year.
He told the Chronicle: "If things go well then I feel like I can cement a place in the team. That's what I want to do. It's good that I am going to get opportunities. The pre-season games are really important to show what I can do. He (Stendel) seems willing to push on the young players, improve them and try to get them into the team."
Mottley-Henry got the final goal in the win at York, six months after making his Barnsley debut as a substitute at Aston Villa. He was then sent out to Chesterfield on loan but was injured then both the Spireites and the Reds went down. The other wingers in the squad are Ryan Hedges and Lloyd Isgrove.
Mottley-Henry said: "I am not looking to go out on loan at all this season. I want to play games for Barnsley's first team. I am ready to step up. Pre-season is a chance for me to prove to the manager what I have got. We have the trip to Hungary then home games against West Brom and Hull on the first team pitch at Oakwell. They are all opportunities for me to impress."
Mottley Henry – who signed from Bradford in 2016 – would be willing to change position to get into Stendel's team. He said: "He plays a five at the back and a 4-4-2. I played in a wing-back position at Tranmere (on loan) before so I am no stranger to it. Then I can play on either side in the 4-4-2. Wherever the manager puts me, I am willing to put in a great shift and get in that starting 11.
"It's been tough with having a new manager and getting to know the formations and his system of pressing players quickly. I think we have adapted to it quicker."
Unlike Bird and Mottley-Henry, Adeboyejo is yet to make his competitive Reds debut despite signing more than 18 months ago, following a spell at Leyton Orient, and then netting 18 goals for the under 23s last season. The senior strikers are currently Kieffer Moore and Tom Bradshaw – both targets for Championship clubs this summer – and Frenchman Mamadou Thiam who netted just one penalty in 31 matches last season.
Adeboyejo said: "As a young player you have got to be better than some of the players who are in the team already. It's nice to get a goal and hopefully there are more to come in pre-season. It's a chance for me and all the young players to break into the team and make a name for ourselves."
Jacob Brown is another 20-year-old striker attempting to break into the side. He is one of the longest-serving players at the club having signed in 2014, but his two Reds first team appearances came from the bench in late 2016 and he spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two Chesterfield.
Brown said: "There's a good chance for us. Me and Victor have both progressed well with the under 23s and we're ready for the first team now. Whether Kieffer and Bradders stay, I am just going to try my hardest to get in the team. Pre-season is great because you get a chance to show what you can do."
