Jon Russell was involved in the January argument about the double Barnsley FC player’s departure; “he may wish”
Last season, the Tykes finished 17 points behind Leyton Orient, who held the final third-tier play-off spot, in 12th place in League One, the club’s lowest finish since the 2003–04 season.
Naturally, the goal for the South Yorkshire club is to establish themselves as one of the division’s top performers once more after placing in the top six in the two seasons before last term, which ended in heartbreak in the final and semi-finals to Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers, respectively. Over the course of the summer transfer window, Hourihane brought in eight new players to the Reds, but a number of players, including Sam Cosgrove, Max Watters, Corey O’Keefe, Donovan Pines, Stephen Humphreys, and Josh Benson, left on loan or permanently.
Hourihane is left with his present options for the next four months of almost unbroken League One, FA Cup, and EFL Trophy activity, as the club will only be permitted to make any other changes to their roster in January or the free agent market. In light of this, Football League World asked our Barnsley FC fan analyst, Andy Smycox, if any players in the Tykes’ current roster could look to leave in January after failing to sign with a club during the most recent transfer window.
Symcox picked two players who are now playing for Oakwell: goalie Jackson Smith and central midfielder Jon Russell. Smith has only made six appearances for Barnsley since joining from Walsall last summer, while Russell, who joined from Huddersfield Town in the winter of 2023, has made just under 100 appearances. Russell was one of the team’s most reliable players last season, scoring 11 goals from midfield.
“A few names immediately spring to mind. First, FLW was instructed by Symcox, “Jon Russell.” “Jon isn’t starting league games right now, and his contract expires at the end of the season. He occasionally steps in as a substitute and occasionally does not. “He is an essential member of the team,” Symcox asserted. He will, however, prefer to play. “He could want to look for a move somewhere so he can start first-team football at the beginning of every game if the scenario persists into January and he isn’t starting league games.
“Indeed, we may wish to sell him if he isn’t willing to sign a new contract,” he stated. “Jackson Smith is the other player. After two seasons with the team, he doesn’t appear to be in anyone’s plans. “He hasn’t gone out on loan, which surprises me, and he’s not hurt, as far as I know. “Our ‘number one’ goalie, Murphy Cooper, is on loan, and Kieren Flavell is our backup. “So, Jackson Smith, even if he is fit, and I assume he is, isn’t going to get near the first team,” Symcox said.
Given his prior accomplishments, it is not surprising that Symcox still views Russell as an important member of the team. However, the 24-year-old will not be satisfied by the fact that all of his league appearances thus far have come as a replacement. Earlier in the summer, four Championship teams—Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, and Oxford United—all showed interest in signing the midfield player, according to an exclusive report from Football League World. If the ‘Reggae Boyz’ make it to the FIFA World Cup next summer, it will be interesting to watch if this passion is renewed in January when the former Chelsea player looks for the minutes that will get him into Jamaica’s squad.
Given that the midfield player’s contract expires in the summer, Barnsley may decide to use the winter transfer window to secure payment for his services or risk losing them in June for nothing. Smith, who made only a few appearances for the Tykes and Grimsby Town during a “emergency loan” last season, is in a similar situation. Even though his contract is set to expire in 2028, it doesn’t appear like the 23-year-old Wolves academy product will be able to secure regular playing time at Oakwell anytime soon due to the possibility of a stagnating career.
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