Jack Walton believes his fellow youngsters are capable of filling any gaps in the Barnsley first team squad which he thinks is already good enough to challenge for promotion.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper signed a new contract this week to keep him at Oakwell until 2021 followed by several other young players. There is a group of under 23s, including striker Victor Adeboyejo, Young Player of the Year Ben Williams and holding midfielder Jared Bird, who have been training with the first team under new manager Daniel Stendel over the last two weeks. Walton played the final three first team games of last season as the Reds were relegated from the Championship.
He told the Chronicle: "There are plenty of young talented players in the under 23s group. A few of them are training with the first team now and integrating well. They just need to make an impression in training then take their chance in games when it comes.
"We already have a squad which I think can challenge in League One and get promotion. We have got quite a few players who have done really well at this level before so we're all really optimistic. Everybody has had a little break and some time to reflect on last season. We have all put it behind us now and we're excited about this season which is coming up. We want to make amends for the relegation."
Walton, who joined the Reds from Bolton Wanderers aged 15, is pleased to have agreed his new contract. He said: "It was good to get it signed and to secure my future at the club. I have worked very hard over a lot of years and I'm starting to see the results now. At the end of the new contract, I would like to be established as the number one goalkeeper and playing back in the Championship with Barnsley."
Walton will face competition for a starting spot next season from Adam Davies, the man he replaced in Barnsley's net when he made his senior debut at Nottingham Forest in April. Davies, who turns 26 later this month, had played 123 consecutive games but struggled for form last season.
Walton said: "Davo was really good with me last season when I was on the bench. He's more experienced than me and he helped me. It's good to have that competition, it's healthy. I supported him when he was starting then he supported me when I got in the team."
Walton is also enjoying working with new head coach Daniel Stendel. He said: "He's been really good so far. The training has been very intense. All the boys are buying into his philosophy and getting used to his style and ideas."
