Hill Running Rule Over Senegal Man

Last updated : 03 August 2012 By Alastair Limb (tykesmad)

Senegal international defender Ibrahima Sonko is training with Barnsley hoping to earn a contract at Oakwell.

The 31-year-old centre-back was released by Ipswich at the end of the season after making 22 appearances at Portman Road.

Sonko's first venture in English football was with Brentford in 2002, and since then he has represented Reading, Stoke City and Hull City at Premier League level.

As well as Sonko and two other trialists, manager Keith Hill will also run the rule over Stocksbridge winger Scott Hogan, after the 21-year-old impressed against the Reds in last weeks' friendly stalemate.

Hogan, who was in the Rochdale squad when Hill was in charge at Spotland, will play in the Reds' friendly with Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday.

Hill spoke to the Barnsley Chronicle:

“We are having a look at him (Sonko) and he is having a look at us,” Hill told the Chronicle.

“I want him to play 90 minutes at Crewe on Tuesday and if we are happy with him then we will discuss a contract. He is synonymous with the Premier League and the Championship and that is the type of player I have been looking for. He has a lot of crediblity and ability but finds himself without a club.

"I would like to sign a player in his position and he is the priority at the moment.We are not looking at any other defenders until we have made a decision on Ibrahima Sonko.”

Hill added: “Scott Hogan is a player that has come on much more than I would ever have expected,”

“When he was at Rochdale he was not ready for the demands of professional football. But when I witnessed him play against us at Stocksbridge he looked sharp and  seemed to have grown up and got the endeavour, hunger and desire that we want at Barnsley.

“We have come to an agreement with Stocksbridge whereby he will come and train with us and they won’t stand in his way if we decide to sign him. He will have a chance to prove himself at Crewe. It is a win win situation for us.”

Former Wigan and Hull striker Caleb Folan was also due to join the Reds on a trial basis last week but he opted to join another club before the trial began.