DAVID McGoldrick says he is ‘not worried’ about his long goal drought and is focusing on being a ‘shining light’ for Barnsley’s young players.
After scoring twice in August, the 38-year-old striker has not netted in 15 league games across almost five months, although he did notch a hat-trick in the EFL Trophy in October against Manchester United under 21s.
McGoldrick, who signed a one-year contract last summer, set up the equaliser for Adam Phillips last week in the draw at Wigan Athletic.
He told the Chronicle: “I got an assist but I am not bothered scoring or assisting. Everyone knows I just want the team to do well.
“I want to be like a father figure to the boys. If they are scoring and playing well then so be it.
“I have been playing for 22 years and know how to score goals. It’s not a problem. I am not worried.
“I am 38 years old. I am not 28 or 18.
“I know my role. I know the special bond I have got with the manager when called upon. I train every day as hard as I can and try to be a shining light to the young lads and I know they look at me to see how I train and conduct myself every day.”
McGoldrick started the first nine games of the league season but has mainly been on the bench since October. He started for the first time in eight league games at Wigan, missing a big chance to score when clean through in the first half. He said: “Some of my performances before I dropped to the bench weren’t good enough. That is why I’ve been on the bench. I have had to be patient and work hard to play again. I did OK at Wigan and let’s see what happens in the next game.
“I should have scored. I did everything I normally do but didn’t put it wide enough of the goalkeeper. Give me another chance like that and I will put it away. When I was younger I got told by Harry Redknapp ‘don’t be worried about missing chances, just be worried when you’re not getting chances.’
“I have always lived by that.”
The Reds are currently two points above the League One relegation with several games in hand on most teams.
McGoldrick said: “I think we’re one of the better teams in the league when we’re on it but we’re so inconsistent.
“It’s weird because I have always said the table never lies. But this league is so tight. Two wins and you are back talking about the other word.
“We’re not worried. It’s the start of January. All we have to do is concentrate on are our performances.
“If we play like the second half at Wigan, we’ll be fine, but if we play more like the first half I am sure there will be different conversations because it wasn’t good enough.”
