HEAD coach Conor Hourihane has already held a number of meetings with the recruitment team ahead of the January transfer window – and said that if there wasn’t interest in his players then he wouldn’t be doing his job.

Barnsley are currently tenth in League One, three points off the play-off places with two games in hand.

They have won their last two in the league including an impressive 5-0 victory at home to Luton Town on Saturday.

Hourihane said his side need to use that game as a springboard for the rest of the season.

He added: “Even when the results weren’t as positive as we wanted pre-Doncaster, we still had wins against York and in the Vertu Trophy.

“I felt like the energy and buzz was okay.

“Even when we’ve lost a couple the lads have always come in in really good spirits.

“I think that’s a really good sign of people enjoying coming to work.

“The last two league games have been pleasing.

“We’re winning in different ways as well so that’s been the pleasing aspect from the group.

“There’s been development in the group over the last two or three weeks.

“We’ve been fixing things that we thought were important to fix. It’s about staying consistent and gaining momentum.”

Barnsley’s next four games are all away from home in a packed-out schedule that will see them play four games in two weeks.

Hourihane said the entire squad will be needed in the next few weeks including the likes of Jon Russell, who was not picked for the squad on Saturday.

He added: “Jon’s come back from his time away with Jamaica.

“We’ve got a full, fit squad and we had won at Doncaster.

“He’s missed a lot of the work we did on the grass.

“We’re going to need everyone.

“It’s so, so important.

“Everyone’s got to take their opportunity when called upon.

“They need to keep pushing and keep training properly to make sure they’re in a good way when they do get called upon.”

The Reds are thought to have rejected a number of bids for their star players – including Luca Connell and Adam Phillips – during the summer transfer window.

Davis Keillor-Dunn is the top goalscorer in League One and is likely to have admirers higher up the footballing pyramid.

Hourihane says he’s already had meetings with the recruitment team about what he is hoping for in January, and admits that if his players weren’t receiving interest from elsewhere then he wouldn’t be doing his job right.

He said: “If there was no interest in our players, if people weren’t really talking about them, that means that we’re not doing our job.

“My job is to get these players playing at their best for as long as possible.

“Let’s see what January brings and we’ll deal with it then.

“There’s been ongoing conversations over the last three or four weeks.

“The process is really good and positive which I’m quite pleased with.

“There’s been a couple of recruitment meetings and I’ve identified positions that I think we should strengthen to help us in the second half of the season.

“Do I think we probably need one or two more to take us up for the second half of the season? Potentially yes.

“Do people leave in January or in the summer? Of course they do.

“Like any transfer window, there will be ins and there will be outs.

“Hopefully, come the end of January we’ll be in a good place for the second half of the season.”

Jack Shepherd and Patrick Kelly suffered knocks and were taken off during Saturday’s win against Luton Town but Hourihane said that they are both fit and ready to play tomorrow.

He said: “They needed a couple of extra days’ recovery to come over a couple of knocks and bruises, but nothing over the top.

“They’re all back on the grass.

“Phillo came through the game which was good as well.

“Obviously there’s been a couple of knocks but I think we’re okay from that point of view which is pleasing.”

After this game, Barnsley travel to Port Vale on Tuesday night in the first knock-out round of the Football League Trophy.

Vale, managed by Darren Moore, also have former Barnsley coach Martin Devaney in their camp.

They beat the Reds 2-0 at Oakwell back in September and have former Barnsley players Joe Gauci and Devante Cole on the books.

The Valiants are currently bottom of League One and have not won in the third tier since that game.