Video: More to come from Barnsley's in-demand MacDonald, insists Paul Heckingbottom

The defender has been one of the many success stories for the Tykes this season, their first back in the Championship.

But that success has brought admirers to Oakwell, with Sam Winnall, James Bree and Conor Hourihane all being tempted away in the January transfer market.

A number of other Reds players are out of contract in the summer, including Josh Scowen and Marley Watkins, but Barnsley have moved to secure the immediate future of 24-year-old former Torquay defender MacDonald.

“He has done well, was attracting interest, so from a football point of view it’s pleasing because you want to tie your best players down,” said Heckingbottom.

“From a business point of view, it’s obviously pleasing for the club because they think they have got a player there who others are interested in.

“He is working hard. He has added quite a lot already to his game while he has been here.

“The good thing from my point of view, is there is still a lot more to add.

I don’t think he’s the finished player yet.”

MacDonald has signed a contract extension to the summer of 2019.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday, Heckingbottom said further talks were ongoing with some of his other players whose deals expire this summer.

“Nothing has changed,” he insisted. “It’s always going on, if the player wants to sign, he signs. It’s part and parcel of football.

“It’s wrong fro me to say exactly what is going on, it’s private between the club and the player. It’s different when it’s sorted and signed.

“They are good players and I would love to keep them here.”