Barnsley loan stars braced for JP Trophy Final axe

Football League rules only allow five loan players to be named in a match-day squad, meaning one of Barnsley’s six loanees will miss out on the glamour of Wembley and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final against Oxford United.

The Reds’ six loan players are Everton’s Callum Connolly, Manchester United’s Ashley Fletcher, Newcastle United’s Ivan Toney, Preston’s Josh Brownhill, Middlesbrough’s Harry Chapman and Southampton’s Lloyd Isgrove.

Of the six, defender Connolly and winger Chapman have yet to feature in the JPT for Barnsley this season, with the latter likely to get the nod due to his attacking flair.

Striker Toney netted in the 2-2 draw at Wigan, and also appeared in the 2-1 Oakwell win over York City, and Fletcher scored in the Northern area final first leg against Fleetwood Town.

Midfielder Isgrove featured against York and Fleetwood twice, and Brownhill was part of the Reds team who won 4-2 on penalties at Highbury to secure their Wembley place.

Caretaker head coach Heckingbottom – who is also waiting on the fitness of key duo Sam Winnall and Marley Watkins – knows he will have to disappoint several players who have helped the Reds reach Wembley and climb to the edge of the League One play-offs this season.

“The six loans scenario is not ideal, but we have had to do it because of injuries and people were missing,” said Heckingbottom.

“On Sunday, it will just come down to our best XI. What do we need on the bench to back them up?

“Unfortunately, we know that one of our six loan players has got to miss out.

“But it will be a purely tactical decision, because all of our six loanees are fit and available.

“We will have a sit down with each player who is not involved and tell them why, but then expect them to be chomping at the bit to get back in the team for the next game.”

Barnsley will welcome back returning trio Connolly, Fletcher and Isgrove from international duty today to add competition to the squad that beat Port Vale on Monday.

Heckingbottom may have only been in the job a few months – since the departure of Lee Johnson – but he has an experienced head on young shoulders.

He promised his Oakwell players nobody will be “fobbed off” when it comes to explaining his final selections.

“You just have to be honest,” said Heckingbottom. “Don’t shirk anything with the players.

“No one will be fobbed off with a silly excuse, everyone will be spoken to with honesty.

“We are wanting to turn this young team into a group of adults, and we have to lead by example, set good standards for them.

“We will be open and honest with everyone.”

Heckingbottom will give Winnall and Watkins “every possible chance” to prove their fitness for Sunday’s final.

It was Watkins who gave the Tykes their first win in the JPT in September, his goal proving decisive in the 2-1 win at Scunthorpe United. He also netted in the 2-1 victory at Bradford City in the same competition.

“We’ll give them every possible chance,” said Heckingbottom. “We’ll have a team ready for if one, both or neither of them are fit, but that will be our call.

“They’re great lads and deserve every chance to get fit because they’ve played a great part in our season and will continue to play a big part between now and the end of the season.

“We can’t risk anyone going out and missing the rest of the season just for one game.

“We will give them every chance because they deserve their place at Wembley.

“If they aren’t ready, we’ll have to pick them up and get them ready for the last seven league games.”

Despite the distraction of a Wembley final looming, Heckingbottom praised his young troops for keeping their focus on the league.

Four points from the Easter period, a draw against Scunthorpe followed by victory over Port Vale, leaves Barnsley just two points adrift of the play-off spots with seven games remaining.

He said: “The players have given everything. It might have been in their minds sub-consciously, as the tension and everything builds up, but you can’t question the commitment and the work-rate of the players.

“Look at the Port Vale game, when we weren’t at our best, and it was the players’ endeavour which got the result in the end.

“But not just this game, every game between now and the end of the season is going to be huge as we are chasing two massive prizes.

“This week will be exactly the same (with preparation). We didn’t do anything with the players until Wednesday, a little bit of tactical stuff on set-plays and organisation.”