Chris O'Grady is desperate to track down his missing Barnsley shirt and he hopes it will not be the last he is issued.

 

The 27-year-old striker, who is keen on a permanent move to the Reds after a successful spell on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, has not been able to track down his shirt since playing in it during the Love Life Festival at Oakwell on Bank Holiday Monday.

 

"I put it in the washbasket after the match like I always do but the next time I went to the club the kitman told me it was not there," O'Grady told the Chronicle.

 

"It might have been pinched. If anyone has it then I just want it back.  I created some really special memories in that shirt a couple of days before and I was looking forward to framing it.

 

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"You only get one shirt and another one goes to the sponsors.  There have been a lot of other seasons when I wouldn't have been bothered about losing my top but this one is special to me because of what we achieved."

 

O'Grady is still technically on loan at Barnsley and has not been contacted by anyone at Wednesday, where he is contracted for another season. He is hoping that a deal can be struck between the two clubs before the Reds return for pre-season on June 24.

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He said: "Things tend to be quiet for the first few weeks after the season ends then liven up in June so hopefully it will all be sorted out by pre-season, but I will be prepared if it is not. I want to be at Barnsley next season going for a mid-table finish or higher."

 

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Owls boss Dave Jones issued a warning to the Reds this week. He told the Sheffield Star: "Chris O'Grady is still our player.  Barnsley do an awful lot of talking but they never actually do anything. "What we will do is wait and see if they come to us."

 

Reds manager David Flitcroft says he has exchanged 'pleasantries' with Wednesday on the subject of the striker but 'nothing constructive' has happened. Flitcroft said: "Chris is someone who we would love to recruit and we'll be working on that over the next few weeks. I'm hoping there's something there but if not we'll have to look at someone else.

 

"The lads feel like he's one of them.  He lives in Barnsley and there was nothing wanted more than for us to stay in the league.  I'm sure there will be other clubs looking at him but I think he wants to sign for us."