Millwall v Barnsley – On-loan Matty James hoping to enjoy injury-free return to Oakwell

Few footballers are more deserving of a spot of luck than the Lancastrian, desperate to put some much-publicised injury torment behind him at Oakwell.

James, who has joined on loan from Leicester City, admits he and his family have endured some dark times in the past few years – and many in his shoes would have contemplated calling time on his career. Fortunately, he has remained mentally strong.

Oakwell was a sanctuary in his first loan spell in 2016-17 when he was handed some cherished game time as he recovered from one of several injury blows to befall him at Leicester.

Now, he finds himself on familiar territory again until January – and if all goes well, the stay could be extended.

The midfielder, whose last league start came back in March 2018, said: “In the (transfer) window, I was speaking to my wife and she was desperate for me to get into a routine of playing football and you do have a routine and when there are so many games, it does become part of their lives as well.

“I think because I have missed so much over a period of time, it affects her and my mum and dad. My brother is at Doncaster and he knows what I have been going through regarding missing games. You train to play in games. Getting back out was important to everyone around me as well.

“The support from Leicester – all the way from the hierarchy to the chefs and people like that – is something I cannot thank the people there enough for.

“That is another reason why I did not want to give up and wanted to give back a little bit of that support.”

As for the prospect of staying at Barnsley beyond the new year, he continued: “For sure, if everything makes sense and hopefully we get the results that make the club move in the right direction.

“If the club are enjoying me and I am enjoying the club, I don’t see why not.”

Among the vast number of well-wishers who will be rooting for James to do well in the weeks and months ahead, his younger brother Reece will be at the top of the list.

James added: “My brother is happy for me able to be here and given the opportunity to play again.

“I have been kind of living through him and hoping that he does well. Reece was in the play-off final with Sunderland and we have flipped about and I have been watching him closely and he has had some good seasons.

“Hopefully, he has another one with Doncaster, although I don’t think Barnsley and Doncaster are the best of friends!’

“But we are in constant contact and for me, it is great just to be back involved. Just to be on the bench the other day, he was happy for me and the support from my family has been tremendous.

“Hopefully, I will get that game soon and try and get the three points for Barnsley.”

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