Andy Yiadom admits there is plenty to get used to after arriving back in Barnsley following the Africa Cup of Nations, but is delighted that his team-mates managed to keep the Reds in the play-off picture while he was away.

The 25-year-old full-back returned to training at Oakwell on Thursday last week after six weeks with the Ghana national team who came fourth at the tournament in Gabon. He played 90 minutes in both the 0-0 draw at Reading 48 hours later and Tuesday's 3-1 success at Aston Villa in which he got his third assist of the season.

Yiadom is getting used to five new team-mates after Sam Winnall, Conor Hourihane, James Bree and Sam Morsy left during the January transfer window. He told the Chronicle: "We've got rid of a few players and a few have come in.  I am happy for Conor, Breezy and Winnall. Hopefully they will do well at their new clubs.

"But the results have still been good even though those players have left the club. That goes to show how good our squad is as a whole. The new players are really good and improving a lot. All the players who have come in have been training well."

Competing against some of the biggest names in world football in the Africa Cup of Nations then playing at former Premier League clubs Reading and Villa represents a major career leap forward for Yiadom who was signed from League Two Barnet last May.

He said: "I am grateful for the way my career has gone, with me making my international debut and playing in the Championship. Barnsley have played a big part in that and it's all about hard work. I have still got loads to learn but I am happy with the way things are going at the moment."

He added: "I definitely enjoyed the Africa Cup of Nations. It was something I never thought would happen in my career. I was happy to get my first two Ghana caps as well. While I was out there, I gained loads of experience and I can use that now for Barnsley."

Yiadom admitted he felt tired towards the end of Saturday's stalemate in Berkshire, before moving from left-back to his natural right side against Villa. He said: "It has been a whirlwind. There has been loads of travelling. "Coming back and playing 90 minutes for Barnsley after all the travelling did take its toll.

"It was a vast drop in temperature because it was 30 degrees and very humid in Gabon and then it was snowing in Reading. But I wanted to play and I was happy to be in the team."