Callum Styles is doing well, but Barnsley FC boss Valerian Ismael wants more

Styles’s goal against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday was his third in six appearances for the Reds.

The 20-year-old was one of the star performers in Ismael’s first 45 minutes as Barnsley coach playing as a central midfielder in October. But he was switched to left wing-back at half-time and has quickly made the position his own.

The relentless Ismael says he must keep up the good work.

“I told him you need consistency in your performance,” he said. “He’s playing at a very good level now but we have to stay at this level.

“We need to raise the bar another level and that’s why I’m very happy for him and for all the guys.

“It’s a long process, the young guys have to learn but at the moment the response is good, the guys are very focussed.

“The team is giving everything we have on the pitch to show we can win with structure, with clear principles and togetherness, and the players can have confidence in the principles.”

Team-mate Cauley Woodrow, who scored Barnsley’s other goal in the 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, says “the sky is the limit” for Styles.

“He’s a massive talent,” said the striker. “He had a season last season showing what he can do and this season he’s coming into his own and scoring some important goals. He’s got a massive future ahead of him as long as he can keep working hard and playing as well as he has been, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Barnsley’s 18 points from Ismael’s 10 games in charge is the Championship’s equal-best points tally in that time (with Brentford and Swansea City), but there will be no letting up from the coach.

“Some games we have been unlucky to lose, other games we deserved to win, like on Tuesday, but now we have to stay this way,” said Ismael.

“The points give us confidence for the rest of the season. When you look at the schedule we have to stay focused.

“At the moment we have all the players (available) but the situation is very sensitive with the yellow cards (Mads Anderson is a booking away from a two-match ban), Covid is still here.

“We have to take a breath and then go again.”

They are at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship tomorrow.

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