Tom Bradshaw has replaced injured Real Madrid star Gareth Bale in the Wales squad for this week's World Cup qualifiers as he hopes to prove that he is irreplaceable to Barnsley.
The 25-year-old was a late entry into Chris Coleman's squad for tonight's game in Georgia then Monday's home match against the Republic of Ireland which could determine who finishes second in the group behind Serbia and potentially qualifies for the play-offs next month.
He has been joined by his uncapped Oakwell colleague Ryan Hedges who has replaced injured ex-Red Marley Watkins.
Bradshaw, who won his only Wales cap 18 months ago, put himself at the front of the queue to replace Bale when he ended a run of just one goal in eight matches with a brace in the 3-1 success at Millwall on Saturday. Bradshaw now has seven goals in 13 Reds games this season, just one off the total he reached in 45 matches last campaign.
He told the Chronicle: "Last season was under my expectations in terms of goals because I wanted ten. But I have said throughout that this will be my season and I think I am showing that. My first season in League One was similar, I only got six or seven goals then I started scoring a lot more.
"The Championship is a big step up from League One but I know where to score goals at this level now. Hopefully I will keep producing. I have a target for the season but I will keep it to myself. To have seven at this stage would be very pleasing for any striker.
"I know I am not the finished article. I have a lot in my game that I need to work on and improve but I will keep working hard to do that."
He added: "I always expect to score a lot of goals. I did it in League One repeatedly and I believe I can do it in the Championship as well. Hopefully I am proving myself to a few doubters and showing I can thrive at this level."
Bradshaw says he would '100 per cent' have claimed the ball for the penalty which Mamadou Thiam scored to make it 3-1 after replacing the Welsh striker, who once scored a hat-trick in the League Cup for Walsall at Nottingham Forest but has never netted three in a league match.
But, aside from personal glory, Bradshaw was thrilled to have helped Barnsley pick up three points after a four-match winless run over the previous month. He said: "We needed that win. It has restored faith from the fans that we are a good team and we can be clinical on our day.
"We've come a long way since the start of the season. There was a very big player turnover which is always difficult but I think we have shown we are a very good passing team and we are starting to be clinical in both boxes."
Paul Heckingbottom's Barnsley have used a 4-1-4-1 system for most of this season, with Bradshaw operating on his own up front. He said: "It's a tough job being the lone striker but you need to do it for the team. As the lone striker, there is more pressure on you to score goals."
Wales still have an outside chance of winning their group but are more likely to finish second and go into the play-offs, as long as they are not the second-placed side with the fewest points. Reds head coach Paul Heckingbottom is glad Hedges and Bradshaw will be involved.
He said: "They are two massive games and it will be good experience for both players. It's great for the club and great for the players. They will get a chance to impress at least in training, maybe in games."
