Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane sheds light on transfer window strategy between now and deadline day

Aside from Neil Farrugia, the incoming activity all came towards the end and it proved to be rather scattergun.

Keeper Joe Gauci arrived on loan from Aston Villa in the final full week of the 2025 winter window, with Wolves wing-back Dexter Lembikisa and French forward Clement Rodrigues signing on deadline day. None made a lasting impression; quite the opposite.

Barnsley's work so far in the latest mid-season window has been more structured and methodical in terms of addressing certain key areas, with Eoghan O'Connell and Owen Goodman both arriving so far - on a short-term deal and on loan respectively - alongside young winger Charlie Lennon.

The latter, who has arrived from Middlesbrough via a loan spell at Darlington, is viewed as one for the future, although not exclusively.

It is Conor Hourihane's hope that Lennon, 19, who has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, will get opportunities this season after assimilating into the Reds squad.

Should further permanent additions come to the club before February 2, the likelihood is that they will follow the template of Lennon.

Temporary signings are a different matter. It is here where Hourihane will opt for more seniority, which is a sensible stance given the intense itinerary that his squad will face in the coming weeks.

Hourihane said: "I think we all know the regime that we're on at the minute. We're signing younger players to develop and that's something that myself and the club want to go down that road (of).

"If we get a couple of loan players, can they be players that are a little bit more established and don't need that bedding-in period - and can they just fit into the team or squad very, very quickly and can they have an impact instantly.

"So, it's finding that right balance and hopefully by the end of the window we'll have that."

On where Lennon fits in, the Reds boss, who doesn't expect further activity before Saturday's trip to Reading, continued: "Look, there's going to have to be some patience around Charlie.

"But for him to get minutes when needed is important and to take the load off Reyes (Cleary) as well is going to be key.

"So it's really important for Charlie when he comes in the building that he develops and works and gets to know as quickly as possible how we play with him without the ball and that will be down to coaching and meetings and being focused on that."

Rest, recovery and classroom time as opposed to too much training work will be the way forward for Barnsley, given their impending schedule.

Returning players will be a bonus in that regard, with Mark Roberts back in the mix for Saturday's trip to Berkshire, while Davis Keillor-Dunn is available again after missing the win over Blackpool due to illness.

Fabio Jalo is unlikely to be involved, while Josh Earl is unlikely to be back until well into March.

Barnsley's trip to Port Vale has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 14.