JOSH Earl admits Barnsley needed to get ‘a little bit fitter’ after faltering late on in games often last season, and believes the gruelling pre-season under Conor Hourihane will help with that.

The Reds had the third best record in League One in the first half of games in the 2024/25 campaign, conceding just 17 goals, but they were the 15th best side after the break and shipped 56 second half goals which was the most in English football.

They have been focusing on fitness so far in pre-season with plenty of early starts and long runs as well as football sessions.

Defender Earl told the Chronicle: “It’s been tough.

“We need to get a little bit fitter.

“Conor has come in and made sure that we’re doing that in pre-season.

“If we’re fitter, we’ll finish games stronger.

“The fitter we get, the better we’ll probably become after 65 or 70 minutes which is something we were poor at last season.”

On Hourihane in general, Earl said: “He’s been brilliant with me – last year when he was a coach and now he is the head coach. I am looking forward to the style we’re playing and the season ahead. There are certain things he wants me to improve on which is brilliant. I will just try my best for him.”

Hourihane has changed to two centre-backs rather than three last season, with plenty of options to play in the middle of the back four.

Earl, who can also play as a left-back, said: “There are loads of centre halves and full-backs.

“Whoever deserves to wear the shirt at the start of the season will get it but there is cover as well.”