Hartlepool United fans fell ‘head over heels’ for new Barnsley signing Reyes Cleary who was one of their best loans in recent years, says Hartlepool Mail writer Robbie Stelling.
The winger signed for the Reds on Monday, after leaving West Bromwich Albion, who had loaned him to National League Hartlepool in January.
Despite being admittedly low on confidence after a difficult loan at Walsall, Cleary made a big impact with six goals and seven assists in 20 appearances.
Pools reporter Robbie said: “Reyes Cleary is one of the finest loan signings the club has made in recent memory, blessed with pace, power, determination and skill.
“He is also, importantly, a humble, likeable and down to earth individual who understood what Hartlepool United meant to the people of the town.
“In his first few Pools appearances he was, understandably, somewhat rough around the ages. His pace meant he found himself in a host of promising positions but he lacked an initial cutting edge, hitting the woodwork three times in a draw with Braintree at the beginning of February.
“It was, surprisingly, when Pools head coach Anthony Limbrick moved him into an unfamiliar wing-back role that he really came to life. I say wing-back, but he was encouraged to push as high up the pitch as possible and I still think his best position is as a natural winger, although he did his defensive duties admirably.
“He scored his first goal in a draw with Tamworth, cutting onto his favoured right foot and curling a sumptuous effort into the far corner, and never really looked back from there. He scored five goals in his final ten Pools games - especially impressive considering he lined up as a wing-back and became a marked man as word of his exploits began to spread - and provided a whole host of assists. They say never fall in love with a loan player, but Pools fans were head over heels for Cleary.”
Robbie also highlights Cleary staying behind after games to interact with young fans and a defensive run to stop a counter-attack in a win against local rivals Gateshead.
