Barnsley FC midfielder Jono Bland on where he needs to improve in 2026-27
JONO Bland's first full season as a Barnsley first-teamer ticked a fair few boxes.
The Wales under-21 international came of age, featuring 53 times in all competitions in 2025-26, including 32 league starts.
Only Luca Connell, Patrick Kelly and Jack Shepherd made more starting appearances in League One than the 20-year-old.
His displays in the middle of the park, while also showing his adaptability on the right-hand side of defence from time to time, were tenacious, energetic and mature, considering he doesn't turn 21 until October.
A conscientious young professional who speaks well given his tender years, Bland remains his own fiercest critic.
Happy to take responsibility, the Shrewsbury-born player admits that becoming more vocal on the pitch is one area where he is looking to develop further in 2025-26.
He said: "I want to be more vocal. That's sort of the next step. That's what I'm trying to be better at, to be honest.
"Because sometimes, when you're in transition and 'blowing' and you're trying to get your breath back, it's hard to suddenly try and switch on and organise people.
"But in the middle of the park, you have to be.
"You can be a leader by how you play or speak. Hopefully the future, I'll be a leader like that. But you can be a leader without being a captain."
Despite his breakthrough campaign, Bland, inset, is acutely aware of the importance of not resting on his laurels and avoiding a case of 'second season syndrome'.
It again speaks well regarding his maturity, while he is also aware that of also being seen as a bit of a role model to follow by emerging players in the club's academy.
He continued: "You can get a little bit comfortable at times.
"But the senior lads and the coaching staff are good at reminding you that the position can be gone quite quickly if you're not at it every single day."
Bland, who joined the club after failing to breakthrough at West Bromwich Albion – he was released at the age of 16 – lifted league and cup trophies during his time in the academy as the Reds' under-18s captain.
His first-team opportunity came in the spring of 2025 after being recalled from a loan spell at sixth-tier outfit Peterborough Sports.
On inspiring the club's academy crop, Bland, also a promising cricketer during his formative years in Shropshire, continued: "Yes, I hope so. I hope that the lads – whether they join from a different academy like I did at 16 or are lads that have been at it since they were nine – know there's a chance for people to come through and perform.
"And when I joined here, I joined for that reason.
"I knew Barnsley were a club that historically sort of brought through younger players and gave them opportunities.
"It hadn't happened consistently for a while before people around my age (came through) and hopefully, along with Vimal (Yoganathan) and Fabio (Jalo), I can provide some sort of template for people to push on."