OWEN Goodman almost joined Barnsley last summer but has arrived this January determined to prove himself after a tough spell at Huddersfield Town and make the Canada squad for the upcoming World Cup.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper was brought to Oakwell last week as a replacement for Murphy Cooper who was sent back to QPR.
Goodman was born in England but spent eight years of his childhood in Ontario, where he began to play football, while he has represented both nations at under 20 level. He was called up to the Canada squad in the most recent international break last November but did not make his debut.
Canada are the hosts of next summer’s World Cup along with USA and Mexico.
Goodman told the Chronicle: “That’s a big goal for me.
“I needed to play this season, with the World Cup coming up.
“I really want to be a part of that brilliant squad and I really want to be at the World Cup. They are dreams and aspirations I have had since I was a kid.
“I am so grateful and blessed I have been given the opportunity by Barnsley to play football.
“I just want to pay back the gaffer (Conor Hourihane) for the belief he has in me.”
Goodman spent the first half of the season on loan to Barnsley’s neighbours and fellow League One club Huddersfield, having excelled for AFC Wimbledon last season with a promotion and 25 clean sheets.
He had a difficult 12-game spell with the Terriers, including a red card at Oakwell in August having made a mistake for the opening goal in what he called ‘probably worst game I’ve ever played.’
He later lost his place and was sent back to parent club Crystal Palace.
Goodman said: “My loan at Huddersfield wasn’t as great as I would have liked it to be.
“For me as a young goalkeeper, it’s a lot of learning. I have played more than 100 games at 22.
“It was high ceiling last year then I wouldn’t like anyone to experience or go through what I did at Huddersfield.
“But in football everyone goes through spells when they are not playing or they are not in form and they find themselves out of the team.
“I just wanted to come here, find myself again and enjoy football again.
“It’s really easy to not enjoy the game when you are out of the team or not performing well. I just want to come here and give it my best every day.”
Goodman nearly joined the Reds in the summer but chose to move to West Yorkshire instead.
“I would say it was between Barnsley and Huddersfield last summer.
“Coming off the season I had last season, I had quite a lot of interest within the league.
“In the summer it was a very difficult decision for me to make.
“I made the decision I made, it’s football. But I am just happy I am here now and playing under a gaffer who is going to give me an opportunity to play every week and just be within this good group of lads.”
Goodman says there has been ‘a bit of banter and jokes’ with David McGoldrick who he fouled for his red card in August.
This time the goalkeeper, on debut, enjoyed watching McGoldrick score twice, including the last-gasp winner in a 2-1 home win over Blackpool on Saturday,
“They were really good ‘limbs’ at the end which I enjoyed.
“I whacked out a little knee slide towards the away end.
“When you look at the table, the play-offs are very achievable.
“With all these games in hand, we’re not a million miles away.”
