JACK Shepherd is looking forward to taking all the experience he gained on loan at Bradford City last season into the new campaign with Barnsley.
The centre-back, who turned 24 last week, was one of the key players in Bradford’s automatic promotion from League Two.
He is contracted until next year with the Reds having an option to keep him for a further season until 2027.
Shepherd told the Chronicle: “I am here. This is where I’m signed.
“That’s what a loan spell is for – to get experience and come back better.
“I have done that and I want to bring it back to Barnsley and use what I’ve learned going forward.”
Shepherd had surgery at the end of last season and, although he is back in training at Oakwell, was not deemed quite ready to play the first friendly at Emley AFC on Tuesday.
“It’s exciting times. There is a good plan for the season and it’s been a good few weeks so far.
“I can’t wait for the season.
“I had surgery after last season had finished. It’s just about getting it right now rather than it being later down the line. It was just a precaution that I didn’t play the first friendly.”
Shepherd is now one of many centre-backs at Barnsley including last season’s regular back three Mael de Gevigney, Marc Roberts and Josh Earl plus Kacper Lopata and Connor Barratt.
Hourihane has changed from a back three to back two.
“It’s all good healthy competition. That’s what you want and it brings the best out of players. It keeps players on their toes and fresh.
“It will be good for us as a defensive unit to have that competition.”
Former Athersley Rec and Penistone Church player Shepherd joined Barnsley from non-league Pontefract Collieries in 2023, quitting his job as a kitchen-fitter.
He played 13 games for the Reds before being loaned out to Cheltenham Town early last year then again to Bradford a year ago.
Shepherd started 31 league games for the Bantams, coming off the bench eight times, and made ten cup appearances – with three goals in total.
“I come off of the back of a good season and I’m more experienced. I just want to bring what I’ve learned last season.
“You can’t replicate the experience of playing professional games until you do it. I played 49 games last season.
“It’s getting the repetition of playing week in week out which I hope to do again this season with Barnsley.”
