Matty Craig is looking forward to potentially facing his identical twin brother when Barnsley host Reading tomorrow from 7.45pm.
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Matty Craig has been mainly a substitute recently for Barnsley, as he tries to break back into the competitive Reds midfield, while his sibling Michael has started every match for Reading at right-back. The brothers, 21, were together in the academies of Watford and Spurs.
Matty told the Chronicle: “We’ve got some family and friends coming up and it will be a good day. It makes it an easy decision which game to go to. They don’t have to travel to two different places or decide between them.”
He added: “I am aware of playing his team but the mindset has to be it’s just another game. When you are coming across each other you both want to win.
“It will be a good experience if we do play against each other. Hopefully it will happen more often as well.
“When the fixtures come out at the start of the season, you are conscious of when the games are. Whether we play with or against each other, it is something we’re looking forward to.
“We are close but at the same time competing against each other. It’s a good thing, and a challenge to progress and see who does the best.”
When Barnsley youngster Bayley McCann came up against his former, and Doncaster Rovers manager Grant, in the EFL Trophy this season he said he did not speak to his dad in the build-up. But the Craigs have been in contact this week.
Matty said: “We have still been speaking but it’s quietened down on the football chat. We’re close in general so he’s still available. But football is a bit more off limits.”
Head coach Darrell Clarke told the Chronicle: “I was having a joke with Matty earlier in the season saying I have signed the wrong brother. It was a joke.
“Matty is a great lad and we can see he’s had a really good upbringing. His brother is on the opposite team which will be a bit strange. It’s strange how the game how the game works out at times.”
In general on the Reading game, Matty said: “It’s a chance to bounce back from a disappointing result on Saturday. The whole squad looking is forward to it. We want to nail our home form.”
