Charlton Athletic v Barnsley: McGeehan gives Stendel a welcome headache

For Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel, that is very much the case ahead of today’s trip to the Valley, with the Reds having one particular poser in the middle of the park.

Influential midfielder Kenny Dougall is back from international duty with Australia, with his replacement Cameron McGeehan producing an outstanding performance in last weekend’s win over Luton Town – in just his second league start of the campaign.

It proved food for thought for Stendel, whose full-back Dimitri Cavare rebuffed the international advances of Guadeloupe to feature for his club last weekend at Oakwell.

On the midfield quandary for the Reds, assistant-manager Andreas Winkler said: “We are very lucky. The only thing that he (McGeehan) can do is make it very difficult for the manager to take him out.

“For himself, he knows he did that very well and made it difficult for the coach.

“It was good for us and especially good for him, first of all, that he could show this performance in this match.

“You need a little bit of luck to have a good day on the day you play from the beginning and then to score was much better – and it was live on Sky.

“Cameron is so ambitious and has such a good attitude every day in training. I would say he is consistent.”

The Reds are expected to be backed by up to 2,000 supporters in the capital this afternoon as they chase a third successive away win and fifth of the League One campaign.

Barnsley are joint second highest top-scorers away from home in the EFL this term with 15 goals so far, with only Peterborough United having scored more.

The Valley has proved a happy hunting ground for the Reds in modern times, with the Oakwell outfit having won on their last three trips to SE7, and going unbeaten on their past four visits.