Conor Hourihane says ‘I was probably backed as best as we could’ in the January transfer window by the club and admitted there was some late interest in captain Luca Connell.
With top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn leaving and only one striker being brought in, Tom Bradshaw, some have questioned whether Hourihane was backed fully by the club.
He said: “I think I was probably backed as best as we could. We tried to get more bodies in. In the last couple of days we were actively looking for a secondary attacking player. There is a lot of noise, I see it.
“I am not going to say I am really, really happy (with the window) because that would tell a false picture the fans wouldn’t believe.
“We were on the phone until the very last minute but it wasn’t to be.”
Connell was linked with a move to Luton Town at the end of the window then Hourihane said he missed Tuesday’s game with Northampton due to illness.
The head coach said: “There was interest in a couple of our top players. Luca attracted interest last summer and again this January but we were very clear we didn’t want to lose our players unless there was the right number there.
“Davo was a really fair deal and that’s why he left to a really good club who have ambitions to move forward.
“For everyone else, there was not too much opportunity and I am very happy with that because it makes our squad a lot stronger.”
New signing Bradshaw missed Tuesday’s game as he had not been signed on time. He has not started in six months.
Hourihane said: “Tom has worked all week, no issues, he’s champing at bit. He’s had individual sessions because we had a game on Tuesday and he wasn’t registered in time.
“I remember a chance the other night when a cross went across goal and I thought if Tom was there in there it might have been a goal. He can be that fox in the box and a focal point.”
Barnsley are midway through a run of nine games in 27 days and Hourihane warned fans that sometimes he would have to leave out some big names.
“We have a lot of games in the next two weeks and there will be times when the team sheets come out and fans say: why isn’t he playing? It’s because he needs a rest. I don’t want the playing load to be ridiculously high.
“There will be times when I feel is one of the better players, in house, needs a game out – whether that is midfielder, defender or attacker. Accept and realise it’s because we have so many games, there will be a game or two people have to sit out or they will literally burn out.”
