BARNSLEY will ‘revisit’ their goalkeeper situation in January but, before then, the returning Jackson Smith will be part of a battle for the number one spot.
Smith has come back from his emergency loan at Grimsby Town but has a slight side strain and head coach Darrell Clarke said he would be out for ‘a couple of weeks.’ When fit, he will compete with Gaga Slonina and Ben Killip – with the latter replacing the American in the league side this week – for a place between the sticks. Academy product Kieren Flavell impressed on his debut in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
Clarke told the Chronicle: “Jackson has done reasonably well on his loan and got games under his belt so the competition for number one when he’s back is healthy. It was an emergency loan and we wouldn’t rule out something like that again. We will revisit where we are in the goalie department in January but, as it stands, everyone is fighting for the number one place.”
Clarke gave fringe players and youngsters some gametime on Tuesday when Barnsley lost 3-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers in the trophy – a dead rubber group game after also losing the first two.
Asked if they did enough to challenge for a place in the league team, he told the Chronicle: “No. I was disappointed. We have bedded in 15 players 21 and under and we’ll continue to do that in that competition. You are looking for someone to catch your eye and change your thinking, people saying they are ready to go straight into the team and I didn’t see enough of that.”
He added: “There’s only so many opportunities you can give to players and if they don’t hit that consistency level, maybe it’s time for them to move on.”
The Reds are currently seventh in League One with 22 points from their first 13 games. They won 2-0 at lowly Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, collecting a fifth away win of the season and completing a seven-point win with some much-improved performances.
They now have a two-week break from league action, although they visit Clarke’s former club Port Vale in the FA Cup first round tomorrow. Their next league game is a week today at home to near neighbours Rotherham United.
Is there less to do during these two weeks without a league game than the last break? Clarke told the Chronicle: “Atmospheres at football clubs are a hell of a lot better when you’re winning games, and so it should be.
“But, in general, the environment has been very good even in that two- or three-week period when I didn’t think the performances were anywhere near what we are capable of.
“We had to rectify that and work hard on the training pitch. We have had a good week but the work continues.
“I want the team to improve throughout the season and I hate complacency.”
