Oakwell harmony could help Barnsley in relegation fight, believes Gerhard Struber

BARNSLEY head coach Gerhard Struber believes that squad harmony and a lack of upheaval will prove an advantage in his side’s relegation fight.

In marked contrast to the likes of Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Charlton, the Reds have had few issues regarding the prospect of key contracted players leaving and showing an unwillingness to play beyond the end of their deals on June 30.

Four senior players – Kenny Dougall, Sami Radlinger, Mamadou Thiam and Dani Pinillos – will depart on that date when their deals expire.

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Barnsley did speak with midfielder Dougall and keeper Radlinger about remaining until the end of the season on July 22, but Struber has no issue with the players – who have not been mainstays – deciding to leave.

Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber.Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber.
Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber.

On the relative stability in his squad, Struber said: “This is very positive that we have no big topic in this case. We are clear with most of the players and our squad and also we have a very good spirit together.

“We don’t lose energy in other ways at the moment and maybe this is an advantage and confirmation for me that we work very closely together and with good communication with the boys.”

Meanwhile, Struber says that the club may take advantage of an EFL ruling which could allow players who have returned from loans at other clubs potentially featuring in match-day squads of parent clubs if they do not have enough recognised first-team players. Toby Sibbick, George Miller, Jordan Green and Victor Adeboyejo are all back training at Barnsley after their loan commitments finished in 2019-20.

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He said: “Maybe we’ll see. The loan players have the right quality to help us, maybe. We need every player and my squad is very small. Maybe I also need a loan player.”

The Reds head coach is urging his side to show they have learned lessons from their last home game against Cardiff – a 2-0 defeat on March 7 – when they welcome a similarly physically imposing Millwall side tomorrow.

The Austrian added: “This is the same style of play and very physical – especially in set-pieces and some of the transition moments with high-speed players.

“Millwall is a big standard to play in and I hope every single player can go on his personal limit in this game.

“This is what we need.”

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