DAVIS Keillor-Dunn is looking forward to facing a manager whose teams he used to watch as a young Sunderland fan as he looks to improve on a ‘slightly frustrating’ start to his Barnsley career.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder is from Sunderland and was a teenager when Steve Bruce was the Black Cats’ manager from 2009 to 2011.
Bruce is now manager of Blackpool, where the Reds will hope to get their form back on track tomorrow after a four-match winless run.
Keillor-Dunn told the Chronicle: “I am a Sunderland fan and used to watch him in the dugout.
“I went to all the games when I was a kid.
“It would be lovely to beat him.
“The boys are confident. We will go there and express ourselves.
“It’s an added bonus if I can beat an old Sunderland manager.
“It adds more to the game and shows me the level I am at now.”
Keillor-Dunn started his season at Mansfield then moved to Barnsley on deadline day, scoring on his debut against Bristol Rovers.
But he has not netted in the following five games – being used in various different positions and formations as the Reds have struggled for fluency in attack.
He admits there has been ‘slight frustration’ for him personally.
He said: “I always want double figures in my career. I want to get that for goals and assists this season.
“I am at a top six League One club and I should be doing that.
“If not, I want to be asking questions of myself and training harder.
“I have been doing a lot of work up top. If I play off Humphs (Stephen Humphrys) or Cos (Sam Cosgrove) that’s perfect.
“It’s a little bit different here.
“I have always been more of an attacking midfielder.
“I have still got to get on the ball, get on the half turn, drive with the ball, switch the play and get in the box.”
The Reds have been working on being better in attack during the recent international break.
“We’ve been focusing on patterns and creating chances and being positive.
“It’s all good having the ball in your half but we have to have it in areas where we can hurt the opposition.
“We’ve been doing that endlessly. Hopefully you can see that in the next few games.”
