Barnsley will spend at least one season in League One after being relegated from the Championship, but there is one good that the club and fans can take from the final few games of the season.
That is the emergence of Jason Sraha, who has made two starts for the Tykes in the final two games of the season. Despite being only 19 years old and having not been given a chance earlier in the season, the club has taken the opportunity to give the defender some playing time.
The results haven’t gone his way – his debut was a 3-1 loss to Preston, and he finished the season with a 4-0 thrashing against West Brom – but the player is nevertheless delighted to be playing, telling the club’s official website that he is “enjoying” the opportunity to play in the first team.
Watch Barnsley Vs. West Brom recent highlights:
It’s the first time Sraha has been given the opportunity to participate. He was an unused replacement earlier in the season and was even loaned out to Guiseley to get some game time, but he has now been handed the opportunity to feature for his parent club.
He may not be a regular in the team next season, but being given the chance now demonstrates that he is highly respected by the people at Oakwell – and Sraha is grateful to have had the opportunity to make his Barnsley debut. The defender told the club’s official website, “Personally, I’m enjoying it first and foremost.”
Obviously, the results aren’t going our way, but I’m just trying to adjust, keep learning in training, and take it game by game to hopefully improve. Sraha will undoubtedly benefit from first-team experience and could truly come into his own next season.
Barnsley’s decision to give Jason Sraha an opportunity in the first squad is a smart one, as it allows one of their young stars to get some playing time. Despite having a lot to play for early in the season, he was merely an unused substitute. With their relegation guaranteed, the team has been able to play some of their younger players freely, and providing Sraha the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with some of the best the Championship has to offer might benefit him greatly.
Even if the games had nothing riding on them, it would show him the level of the division and should allow him to go on and get even better next season. With Barnsley currently playing in League One, he could be utilized even more regularly in the coming season. At only 19 years old, the athlete has lots of time to develop — and the defender will be eager to add to those two outings next year.
