Barnsley FC boss Daniel Stendel outlines Daniel Johnson plan after ex-Stoke City playmaker's debut
Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel has discussed recent recruit Daniel Johnson
Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel is hoping to have Daniel Johnson ready to start games in the coming weeks.
The 34-year-old arrived at Oakwell last month, penning a deal running until the end of the season after a spell on the free agent market.
He has had to be patient, but the attacking midfielder was introduced for his debut from the bench as Barnsley drew 1-1 with Oxford United on Saturday (October 31).
The outing was his first in a competitive fixture since March, when he played his final game for Turkish outfit Fatih Karagümrük.
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Daniel Stendel on Daniel Johnson
“I think it’s really important [to give him minutes],” Stendel told The Yorkshire Post. “I don't know when he played the last game, but about his experience, his quality, we decided we'd take him in the squad.
“We have this game, nobody knows it before, but I think you can see in some little situations that he has the calmness to keep the ball, to find the right decisions, and I'm really happy that he's back in the squad and it's his first time today on the pitch, and I hope we can build him up in the next couple of days.
“Next week, maybe, he can play some more minutes that he can build up to start maybe in two weeks.”
Valuable experience
A product of Aston Villa’s academy, Johnson left Villa Park to enjoy a memorable eight-year spell at Preston North End. Between 2015 and 2023, he racked up 336 appearances for the Lilywhites and developed a habit of tormenting the Reds.
A season with Stoke City followed before the Jamaica international moved to Turkey.
“I think we talk about this with everyone in the club, that we decided to work with so many young players in the past,” said Stendel. “But for some situations, especially for the situation that we have at the moment, we need experienced players who know a little bit what can happen.
“It's a good chance for the younger guys to look after him and take a little bit of confidence from him to play their best game.”