SCOTT Banks has already started more league games for Barnsley than he did in the previous two and a half years of his career.
The 24-year-old never started a league match for German club St Pauli who loaned him to Blackpool for the first half of this season, where he was mainly a substitute, and now the Reds.
He has started eight times for Barnsley since joining in January, coming off the bench twice more – his first regular football since another loan in Yorkshire with Bradford City in the 2022/23 season.
Banks told the Chronicle: “I haven’t played this much for a long time.
“But I am really happy with how my body is dealing with it.
“I am trying to do all the right things to make sure I am ready for each game.
“I haven’t had it for a while and it’s so important in my career.
“That’s one of the main factors that brought me here.
“I am really excited for all the games to come and hopefully we have a really good run.”
He added: “There was always going to be learning coming into a new group.
“It’s not just football sometimes, it’s developing relationships with your team-mates close to you on the pitch and trying to figure each other out while games come thick and fast.
“I am growing into my game and becoming much more comfortable with Barnsley Football Club.”
Banks registered four assists in his first three Barnsley appearances and has since scored against AFC Wimbledon and this week in a draw at home to second-placed Cardiff City.
He said: “The goals are definitely the best feeling.
“As an attacking player, you are looking to add stats to your game however you can.
“But when I got those stats before, we hadn’t got much out of the games so it’s more rewarding when we get a point against such a strong team.”
Cardiff, who beat Barnsley 4-0 in January, began the midweek match on top but Banks’ goal changed the momentum and the hosts had a strong end to the first half.
“It was good. We had some really good chances after the goal.
“We know what happened at their place.
“They scored early and dominated so it was key to get one back and mean the game wasn’t going to be like that.
“We were really aggressive and made it a difficult night for them.
“We frustrated them a lot and fought for the point.”
Head coach Conor Hourihane said: “Great shift from Banksy. He took his goal really well.
“We always want our opposite winger getting in and around the back stick, and I thought he did great.”
