Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley FC: Daniel Stendel on need for more 'open-minded' players

DANIEL Stendel has hailed Arley Kay as the perfect example of the 'open-minded' sort of player he wants to work with at Barnsley on a regular basis.

The teenager, son of former player Antony, has been the biggest plus point of a testing summer for the Reds, with Stendel only partway through a playing style makeover which will take time to fully implement at Oakwell.

Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel, whose second competitive stint in charge of the Reds got under way in the recent EFL Cup home tie against Wigan Athletic. Picture courtesy of BFC.

placeholder image — Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel, whose second competitive stint in charge of the Reds got under way in the recent EFL Cup home tie against Wigan Athletic. Picture courtesy of BFC.

Barnsley, who lost their home league opener against newcomers Bromley last weekend, also remain a work in progress on the squad front, with some further players likely to depart following this week's sale of Mael de Gevigney to Silkeborg and Stendel keen for more new arrivals to arrive.

At the moment, he must work with what he has got and hope that players can be adaptable, something that Kay has shown.

Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly returns to former club Doncaster Rovers this weekend. Picture: Tony Johnson.

Stendel said: "Especially when you work with a young player and give him the chance to play in different positions and take experiences from the style and from the position, it's easier to help them to improve.

"I need open-minded players that say: 'Okay, it's a chance for me, I try and give my best and then I'm happy and then it helps everybody to improve and to come to his ambitions.

"Arley Key is a good example. In the pre-season, he played right back, left back, centre-back; a lot of positions and we have more players like him in the squad and you can see how they improve every week a little bit more and this is what I like to do and this is the way for Barnsley Football Club.

"It's not every player like this but I would like to work more with players like them because then it's easy."

Barnsley were unfortunate to lose out last weekend after creating a number of chances, but while performance is one thing, Stendel is wise to the notion of substance by way of points, however they arrive.

Especially on derby day when Barnsley will be backed by a sizeable contingent at neighbouring Rovers.

He added: "I think the performance was OK on Saturday and I know especially in the derby everybody would like to see a good performance. "But everybody would like to win a derby and we will try to do it.

"I think the most players know what a derby is in Doncaster and the new players know it when the players talk in the changing room and I can promise that we give everything to win this game."