Bradford City v Barnsley: Tykes hope Sam Winnall's form doesn't alert too many rivals

LEE JOHNSON admits he is conscious that in-form striker Sam Winnall's outstanding recent form for Barnsley could prove a double-edged sword.
Barnsley's Sam Winnall, celebrating after scoring against Rochdale on Saturday. Picture: James HardistyBarnsley's Sam Winnall, celebrating after scoring against Rochdale on Saturday. Picture: James Hardisty
Barnsley's Sam Winnall, celebrating after scoring against Rochdale on Saturday. Picture: James Hardisty

Winnall heads into tonight’s derby at Bradford City with confidence coursing through his veins after hitting the ‘perfect’ hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-1 victory of Rochdale, plundering goals with his left and right foot and scoring with a header.

It took the former Wolves marksman’s seasonal haul to 15 goals, with the 25-year-old having netted eight times in his past five outings.

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Such statistics are unlikely to have escaped the notice of clubs at a higher level as they plot possible transfer business before Monday’s New Year window deadline.

And while Johnson is anxious that Winnall, 25, remains at Oakwell by 11pm on Monday night, equally he is philosophical.

On the possibility of interest being generated in Winnall – who will assess key winger Adam Hammill (knee) ahead of this evening’s Valley Parade clash – said: “You just never know. As a striker, it is a great time to hit form as everybody needs goals.

“Obviously, we want to retain him, but you just don’t know. You have seen the likes of Conor Washington just go for £2.8m and you think: ‘What is really the difference there?’

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“Sam has probably scored more. I think he’s scored one or two more goals than him.

“It is interesting, we’ll have to see. But at the moment, we have had no contact.

“To score goals is the hardest thing in football and he’s certainly in a rich vein of form and he’s been excellent in the past eight to 10 weeks.

“He must be due to be (a contender for) player of the month with the goals that he has scored, although I know a couple of games are left.”

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Johnson is eager to avoid the perils of an “After the Lord Mayor’s Show”-style performance tonight – and admits that going unbeaten in January is a big motivation given some of the extreme difficulties face in the months which preceded it.

Moreso, with the seismic Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern section final second leg looming at Fleetwood Town in just nine days time.

The Oakwell head coach added: “We will just keep going and we have got a really tough game at Bradford.

“We want to stay unbeaten in January moving us into that really important JPT second leg final.”