Barnsley duo have emerged from personal tribulations

The Austrian, 30, a rock-solid presence since arriving at Oakwell almost a year ago, has seen enough in fellow defender Mads Andersen to confirm his opinion that the 23-year-old has a ‘great future’ in football if he maintains his upward curve.

Andersen emerged from the first lockdown as a player reborn. After a fraught opening to his Reds career in 2019-20, the Dane’s turnaround in fortunes has been outstanding – and he has marked himself out to be one of the most consistent Championship defenders in 2020-21.

Sollbauer said: “I can just rate Mads since I have been here, but I recognise that Mads is a really good player in my opinion, with a lot of skills and qualities.

“At his young age, he is experienced now and I think he plays on a very good level personally and it is very good for us and I enjoy playing with him.

“If he keeps on moving, he will have a great future.”

Andersen’s transformation is all the more laudable given what he endured before heading back to Denmark to clear his head after a torrid Barnsley baptism which culminated in him being taken out of the firing line before football’s suspension last March.

As someone who had some tough experiences of his own in his native Austria, Sollbauer was able to hand him some valuable insight in those tough times.

Sollbauer added: “He was a man before, don’t get me wrong. But he had to learn some things in a hard way and I spoke to him and he has done a great job.

“It was not an easy time for the team and his personal situation was not easy. But he used the Covid break, which came at a really good time. He spent some time at home to get away from it.

“He came back and was very important for the team and showed what he is able to do. At the moment, he enjoys the game, is a big part of the team and I like to play with him.

“I told him that I was nearly in the same situation to learn some things in a really hard way.

“To play every minute as a captain and to go and be sitting in the stand and not being part of the team for two months was hard and I just told him my experiences in this time was to keep on moving and working hard.”

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