CARLTON Morris says he will thrive on the responsibility to be a regular scorer for goal-shy Barnsley this season.
The 26-year-old striker missed three months of the season with a knee injury and returned in late November.
He netted twice in four Championship games last month then scored two more off the bench in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Barrow, which means he is the joint top-scorer in all competitions with the currently injured Cauley Woodrow.
The Reds are the joint lowest scorers in the EFL with 16 goals in 24 games.
Morris told the Chronicle: “It’s a responsibility I cherish and I thrive on.
“I am happy to bear that burden and deliver goals.”
Morris has 11 goals in 35 games since joining the Reds a year ago, with 20 of those appearances being from the bench.
His brace in the 5-4 cup win meant he has now scored seven goals as a substitute which is a Barnsley club record.
“It’s great to be back out on the pitch and scoring goals.
“Getting two in one game is always nice and I am feeling good out there.”
Barnsley had to call off their game with Stoke this week due to an outbreak of Covid-19.
They have had around 12 players out following positive tests or injuries.
Morris said: “It’s not ideal missing a few key players through Covid and injuries.
“But it’s part and parcel of football now.
“There are people who have much worse things in their lives.
“We just have to focus on the players who are available and focus on getting our heads down and getting results.”
In the nine weeks until the next international break, Barnsley have 14 games scheduled while they have still to rearrange home clashes with Stoke and Cardiff, which had been on the weekend of the FA Cup fourth round.
Morris said: “It is a lot of games and that’s the fixture congestion we have to deal with in these times of Covid.
“But we have to take it as an opportunity to take a lot of points in a short period of time.
“That’s the way we’re looking at it.
“We’re an ambitious young group.
“It hasn’t gone our way this season, but we still go into every game with confidence.”
