Why Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary is happy for Conor Hourihane to be on his case

After a bittersweet time in the EFL on loan at Walsall in the first half of 2024-25, the Reds flier has seen his name in lights a fair bit more with the Oakwell outfit.

Still just 21, the Midlander - who joined Barnsley on a permanent deal from West Brom last summer - is the first to admit that he is by no means the finished article.

His manager is also there to quickly remind him of that fact as well.

Cleary told The Yorkshire Post: "He's on to me all the time, which I like.

"When I'm around the training ground, he's always picking something up from the other games that he'll remember.

"And then on a game day, because I'm on the left when we're shooting (towards the left-hand goal), I'm near enough to the touchline near him. He's always giving me information."

On where he feels his game has improved the most, he continued: "I think my runs have been more effective this season because there's been games where teams are playing high lines.

"In the Luton game for example, I went to press and then I've won the ball and they're playing the high line and then Davo (Davis-Keillor Dunn) plays a ball over the top and obviously, I get the goal. My in-behind runs have changed a lot this year.

"It's just sometimes about reading the game. If I see a high line, I'm going to back myself in a foot race."

The busy Christmas and New Year period provides the perfect opportunity for clubs to make their move in league tables and for Barnsley, it’s no different.

This time last year, Reyes was part of a Walsall squad who were threatening to turn the League Two title race into a procession. But it was a mixed time for the Brummie, who was finding opportunities hard to come by.

He returned to parent club West Brom and went back out on loan to National League side Hartlepool United.

His form there earned a move to Oakwell where highs have included winning October’s League One goal of the month award for his stunning 60-yard strike at Yorkshire rivals Bradford City and being nominated for the third-tier player-of-the-month accolade in November.

On his breakthrough 2025, Reyes, who lost out to Leyton Orient's Aaron Connolly for the players' gong last month, added: “It has been, but it's not finished yet.

"I think being at Walsall, obviously it was a bit frustrating. Then I got to about December (last year) and then I just said to myself that I needed to play somewhere.

"But I couldn't go to another league team because I played for West Brom before I went on to Walsall.

"So the National League was only the really good option really. It was the fact of me playing senior football and Hartlepool gave me the platform to do that and it paid off."

Tenth-placed Barnsley host Mansfield Town on Boxing Day before seeing out the old year at home to Lincoln City.