DONOVAN Pines says the chants of ‘USA!’ at Oakwell make him and Gabriel Slonina feel at home, but he accepts he may not hear them every game as he battles for a place in the Barnsley 11.

The American defender, who had surgery on an injury in March, has started one of the four league games so far this season and both of the EFL Cup ties.

He was on the bench on Saturday for the draw with Northampton, with head coach Darrell Clarke having numerous options in defence. Pines told the Chronicle: “Wherever you go there is competition, someone trying to take your spot. I am doing my best to play but also to take good care of myself.

“I won’t risk it. I will be smart.

“I would rather miss one game than three or four. If I have to take some time to recover my quad then so be it.

“But I feel good, I am doing the right things and doing everything I can to stay on the field.”

Pines played all of the 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday, ending a ten-game wait for a home win.

He said: “It was a great atmosphere. The fans brought so much positivity. The USA chants really helped me and Gaga (fellow US international Slonina) feel at home because we’re far away. It’s really a blessing to have the supporters support us in the right way.”

Pines was part of an heroic defensive effort on Tuesday.

He said: “Coach told us after Saturday we had to change our mindset. We did that. We communicated better, pressed a lot more and stayed in our shape the best we could. We stayed focused, organised and got to the finish line.

“We had to gut it out. The luck kind of went our way as well – the ball hitting the post, going wide, hitting Gaga’s neck and going out.”