CONOR Hourihane has reiterated that his decision to bring Barnsley duo Kelechi Nwakali and Georgie Gent on Tuesday night was his call.

The pair came on from the bench in the 1-0 reverse at Stevenage.

Nwakali had not been in Hourihane's plans all season. The club tried unsuccessfully to move him on in the winter window and the summer market in 2025.

The 27-year-old has a year left on his deal.

Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali, who joined Barnsley from GD Chaves in the summer of 2024. Picture courtesy of Barnsley FC.

placeholder image — Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali, who joined Barnsley from GD Chaves in the summer of 2024. Picture courtesy of Barnsley FC.

Hourihane had left Gent out of the squad earlier this spring due to the fact that he has not hit the daily standards he wanted from his players - but said that the door remained open if he showed improvement.

On the decision to involve the duo again and whether it was his call, Hourihane, who will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the season after he agreed a mutual parting of the ways with the Reds hierarchy, said: "Absolutely, yes. I think from my point of view, I think it's time for me really to look forward for the club's best interests.

"I think it would be very easy for me to be really selfish in this moment and go: 'no, I'm going to play the lads who have been playing in terms of out-of-contract players and what not'.

"But this is me showing my care to the club and I want the best for the club moving forward. And I think it's completely the right thing to do.

Barnsley defender Georgie Gent. Photo: Tony Johnson.

"So, I think in the negotiations that me and the club have had, we all felt it was the right thing.

"I want what's best for the club moving forward. I've made that known to everyone.

"I've played for the club. I've obviously now managed the club for 14, 15 months.

"And I want the club to be in a good place moving forward. So the right thing to do is to involve the guys that were mentioned, really."

Josh Earl is back in contention for Saturday's trip to play-off chasing Luton Town, with Hourihane providing an update on David McGoldrick, with the Reds' out-of-contract top-scorer having missed the club's last three games with a hamstring issue.

The Reds chief added: "Probably Josh will be ok and will be back.

"We're still umm-ing and ahh-ing about Didzy. He trained today. See how he'll react from that.

"Everyone's been OK from the squad who played on Tuesday night. So it probably just comes down to Didzy really."