REYES Cleary says the senior players in the dressing room have been helping him improve and he’s hoping to add more goals to his already impressive tally moving forward.
The 21-year-old signed from West Brom in the summer but didn’t start a league game until the 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers last month.
He scored in that game and in the four games since he’s added a further two goals and three assists.
Cleary is becoming an important player for the Reds and he says experienced players like David McGoldrick have been helping him along the way.
He said: “Didzy has had a long career in the game so he wants more from me.
“Obviously I’ve done well today (against Luton) but first thing Monday or Tuesday, I’ll sit with him and we go through clips where I can get in more profitable positions.
“With Davo (Keillor-Dunn) I know if I put a good cross in, he’s always in the right area.
“We just work on patterns and things. When the defence drops all the way to the six-yard box, it’s always going to be a cutback.But then if they don’t drop, Davo’s going to be in and around the six.
“We just have an understanding of each other now and it’s getting a bit better.”
But it’s not just the older heads in the dressing room Cleary’s been learning from.
He also says playing against players like Caylan Vickers and Patrick Kelly in his youth has helped him settle in at Oakwell.
He added: “I used to play against Patrick when he was at West Ham because we were in the same age group. It’s similar with Caylan as well.
“I know Pat can run with the ball at speed.
“With Caylan, because I know he’s a good dribbler, he can get in and out of tricky positions.
“It’s just about being versatile with whoever I’m playing with.
“I know Vimal (Yoganathan) can carry the ball and he can get his body in the way.
“He likes to do one-twos with me so I know when he comes across the pitch I don’t even have to look.”
He admits the wonder goal against Bradford has boosted his confidence – but it’s his hunger to stay in the first team that’s keeping him going.
He said: “The Bradford goal has given me a little boost. But the lads are always encouraging me to get at people, get in behind. I think Luca (Connell) comes into play with that. He’s a good captain.
“I feel across all positions there’s competition. But I like competition because I need to remain in the team.”
