TOM Bradshaw is not interested in easy street.

Some might opine that the veteran striker's return to former club Barnsley is a sign of him maybe ‘winding down’ a little bit.

Perish the thought, with the 33-year-old, used sparingly this season at parent club Oxford United, eager to make up for lost time at a club he knows well.

Bradshaw, who made his 'second debut' in last weekend's Roses loss at Bolton Wanderers after joining for the rest of the season on loan on deadline day, said: "For me, I am hungry to play football.

Barnsley loan signing Tom Bradshaw, pictured in action for Oxford United at Stoke City. Picture: Getty Images.

placeholder image — Barnsley loan signing Tom Bradshaw, pictured in action for Oxford United at Stoke City. Picture: Getty Images.

"From an outside perspective, some people will think: 'he's 33, he's probably just after something comfy or whatever'.

"I think that's very individual. For me, I feel physically great and still have the hunger to go out there and play and score goals and put my body on the line.

"The day that changes is a day when I will have a different view on where my career wants to go.

"But I am here to play, score goals and help the team. That's what my plan is at the moment."

Barnsley chief Conor Hourihane, who previously played with Tom Bradshaw. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Approaching the winter of his career, Bradshaw is a far more seasoned figure this days from the striker who joined the club from Walsall almost a decade ago.

That said, he does not believe that his playing style has altered that much in his time away.

One-time Wales international Bradshaw, who switched to Millwall from the Reds in August 2018, commented: "I've never hugely relied on pace. I've never been lightning quick, so I've always had to home in on movement as opposed to raw pace.

"It's something I probably wished I had in the first half of my career. In the second half, it's actually proved good for me in terms of never having to rely too much on it. I just back my movement.

"In terms of my game, it hasn't particularly changed too much. I feel like I am stronger now than when I was back at Barnsley.

"I'd like to say more composed (as well), but that's purely with experience really. And knowing what to do in the right moments.”

Following Tuesday night’s trip to Stevenage, Barnsley return to action on Saturday when they host AFC Wimbledon at Oakwell.

It’s the first of back-to-back home matches, with the Reds welcoming Peterborough United next Tuesday before a derby trip to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.