George Moncur is looking up at Barnsley after dad's pep talk

Two months ago, the Barnsley midfielder’s season was drifting nowhere – on the bench during an undistinguished loan spell at Peterborough United and with his Reds career seemingly at a crossroads less than six months after joining.

But Moncur thankfully appears to have taken the hint, with some candid words from his father – ex-Tottenham and West Ham schemer John – helping him wisen up in terms of his own attitude.

Moncur’s reward arrived on Tuesday night when he made his first Championship start for Barnsley – and just his second of the season – in the club’s outstanding 3-1 victory at troubled Aston Villa.

The decision of head coach Paul Heckingbottom to promote Moncur was a bold call, even accounting for his belief that his application and mindset has improved in recent weeks following his decision to fight for his place back at Oakwell.

But Heckingbottom’s move was vindicated by a mature and hard-working performance from the 23-year-old – who has particularly been striving to improve his game when without the ball.

All parties will be hoping it provides a springboard for a player whose prowess in lower-division circles was well-known before his summer move.

Expressing that desire, Moncur said: “When I first came here from down south where I live, it was a bit of a shock to me and I think I was not right in my head when I was playing in the team. When I got a few games, I was not up for what I can show.

“For a bit of confidence and to play games, I thought I would go out on loan. It started there and it went a bit down and I will openly admit that it was not really the best.

“I thought I had got to pull my finger out a bit and do something for this team.

“My dad gets on at me a bit as well because he said football is a hard game and when it is not going for you, you have got to do everything you can to push on and do well.

“Because he has played at the highest level, it has helped me a lot.”

On a night to savour for himself and Barnsley, he added: “It is up there with the best nights for me, coming into the side. All the boys dug in really deep and showed their class and I thought we deserved the three points.”