JONO Bland is delighted to have had two Barnsley legends as his first two managers in his young career, having worked under Luke Steele and now Conor Hourihane.

The 19-year-old midfielder spent much of last season at Peterborough Sports in National League North who are managed by former Reds goalkeeper Luke Steele alongside Michael Gash.

Bland told the Chronicle: “Steeley is amazing. He’s a great bloke and great coach. A lot of the stuff I took from that loan wasn’t necessarily on the pitch.

“Luke told me how to handle a first team environment and a men’s changing room, how you should conduct yourself with your team-mates. I am grateful for what they did for me.

“I can’t complain. If you have good people around you and to learn from, you can only go one way. It’s been a real pleasure for me so far.”

Bland then returned to his parent club Barnsley in spring and has been playing regularly under Hourihane, who was a team-mate at Oakwell of Steele for a month in the summer of 2014 before captaining the Reds to promotion two years later. Bland, who joined the Reds after leaving West Bromwich Albion, said: “I take a lot from Conor. I used to watch him as a kid when I was at West Brom and he was at Villa. I remember him scoring in the play-off semi-final.

“When he first came in as a coach last season he did a lot of one-on-one work with me before I went out on loan.

“He gives me invaluable information.”

Bland almost scored his first goal for the Reds on Tuesday but hit the post in the EFL Cup tie against Rotherham.

The holding midfielder said: “I thought I had squeezed it in. It’s not my priority but I would like to chip in with goal contributions if I can. Hopefully I can add that to my game.”

Bland has played in all five league games this season, starting two.

“To get a couple of starts is a good step but Conor made it clear to me he wanted me around the building.

“I guess I was hoping I could put my marker down in pre-season and make sure I am in the building come the end of the window.”