Flitcroft trying to persuade Scotland to aid Barnsley’s cause

Barnsley are in talks with striker Jason Scotland about a move to Oakwell.

The 33-year-old from Trinidad was released by Barnsley’s Championship rivals Ipswich Town on Monday.

Reds manager David Flitcroft said last night that he had spoken to the former Swansea striker about a potential move to Oakwell.

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Barnsley face competition from Scottish Premier League side Dundee for a man capped 41 times by Trinidad and Tobago.

The Reds have also been linked with their former midfielder Stephen McPhail, 33, who has been told by Championship pace-setters Cardiff that he can go out on loan.

Flitcroft is in need of a new midfielder with Stephen Dawson out for up to two months.

McPhail helped Barnsley win promotion to the second tier in 2006 before joining Cardiff, for whom he has played 200 times.

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But his season has been curtailed by injury. The ex-Leeds United player was diagnosed with stage one malt lymphoma in November 2009 and then with auto-immune disease Sjogren’s Syndrome last season.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said: “There’s a chance he might go out on loan, if the opportunity comes up, to give him 90 minutes regularly.”

Former Reading striker Mathieu Manset is currently on a one-week trial at Oakwell.

The 23-year-old Frenchman is short of match fitness and Flitcroft said: “He’s trained with us, but he looked a little bit rusty.

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“He’s not ready now, which we expected, but hopefully it won’t take him long to catch up. It would only be a short-term deal.”

Barnsley have also received bids which Flitcroft calls “derisory” for wing-back John Stones. Flitcroft believes 18-year-old Stones, who joined the club 10 years ago, is worth £3m.

Former Reds manager Keith Hill was yesterday re-appointed manager of League Two side Rochdale.

The 43-year-old, who was sacked by Barnsley last month, returns to Spotland after leaving the club 19 months ago to take charge of the Reds.

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Leeds United defender Alan Tate has returned to parent club Swansea as per the terms of his loan deal.

Tate, 30, spent two months at Elland Road and played 11 games.

Leeds boss Neil Warnock said: “He came in at a time when we really needed him and I made no secret of the impact he had.

“He improved us and he helped us steady the ship. But I need to think about sorting out the attacking end of the squad before doing anything else.”

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Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Chris Lines has joined MK Dons on a month’s loan, while Jeremy Helan has returned to Manchester City.

Lines made just six appearances for the Owls this season and has been moved on to get some first-team action.

Helan, who was booked twice against Huddersfield but not sent off, scored once in nine games at Hillsborough and the Owls are hopeful of securing him on another loan.

Wednesday’s Championship match with Charlton on Saturday is in doubt.

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The Valley pitch is currently covered by an estimated 110 tons of snow. The club have appealed for help to clear it.

Rotherham United’s League Two fixture against Oxford United, which was postponed last Saturday, has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 5, kick-off 7.45pm.