CAYLAN Vickers says he wanted to join Barnsley even earlier in the summer than he did and is enjoying his successful start to life at Oakwell.

The 20-year-old, who arrived on a season-long loan last month from Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion, has impressed on the right wing so far for the Reds – scoring two goals in five starts including the only strike in midweek at Peterborough United.

Vickers scored against the Reds for previous loan club Mansfield Town in March, which was Conor Hourihane’s first game as head coach.

The winger told the Chronicle: “Maybe that’s where I caught their eye.

“I think it was the manager’s first game and that might have helped him want me here.

“It was an enjoyable game for me and Mansfield at the time.”

Vickers then spent the summer back at Brighton, including a training camp in Spain the week before he moved to the Reds.

“The manager (Hourihane) was in contact with me before the training camp with Brighton.

“I was trying to get here a bit earlier. It took about two weeks.

“When he told me about the project, I was keen to come and tried to push it through as quick as I could.”

Hourihane has told Vickers he wants more goal contributions than his two goals for Mansfield – which he has already matched for the Reds – and three assists.

“Day to day it’s just about training hard, knowing the players and getting into the right areas to get goals.

“At Mansfield at times, I could have been better in the final third.

“I will use that experience to try to get more goals this season.”

Vickers is one of a new crop of wingers brought in this summer by Hourihane who has changed system away from 3-5-2.

“The manager has told me to stay high and wide.

“Sometimes I swap with Phillo (Adam Phillips) and come inside.

“He doesn’t tell you what to do on the ball, it’s more what positions to pick it up in.”

Vickers’ goal in midweek was backed up by Barnsley’s first clean sheet in 19 games since February.

“The whole team defended well but the defenders and ‘keeper were a big part of that clean sheet.

“They did really well to get it and it’s won us the game.

“We know the quality we have and that we will score goals, but keeping clean sheets helps us because we don’t need to score as many.”