Its Ped For Reds.

Last updated : 23 August 2013 By Rob Miles (BarnsleyBoy)

After two and a half weeks of trying Barnsley have finally managed to sign a striker on loan with the arrival of Norwegian striker Marcus Pedersen from Dutch top flight outfit Vitesse on a season long loan deal.

The 23 year old started his career in his home nation with HamKam, making his debut at just 15 years of age but he first shot to prominence after moving to Strømsgodset in 2009 and netted 17 times in 40 appearances in the 2009-2010 campaign helping his side finish seventh in the Tippeligaen (after finishing 12th out of 16 teams, two points off the relegation zone 12 months previously) and win the Norwegian Football Cup (Norway's equivalent of the FA Cup) for the first time in 19 years.

This earned the Norwegian international a £1.2m move to Vitesse in August 2010 but injuries have hampered his stay at the GelreDome and he has netted just six times in 27 games, punctured by a loan spell at Valerenga where he scored eight times in 15 games.

Pedersen who has represented Norway at every level from the Under 15s to the senior side will remain at Oakwell until the end of the 2013-2014 season and he told the club's official website:

"I'm really pleased to be here and I am looking forward to it. I have always wanted to play in England. I think the game here will suit me. I am impressed with the people and the set-up at Barnsley.

"I like it when a manager looks at each person as an individual and in David Flitcroft I can see he is that type of person. It was good to meet him today and I feel very happy with the decision to come here.

"First and foremost I am a striker, I like to get in the box and attack the ball and I like to score goals. I always try to improve my scoring ratio and hopefully I'll be able to do that here at Barnsley.

"I'm looking forward to playing here at Oakwell and in the Championship. There are some very big clubs in the Championship and it's a good league to be in. Barnsley create a lot of chances so hopefully I will be the last one on the ball to score a lot of goals."

Pedersen also scored against England for the Norway Under 21's during this summer's European Under 21 Championships.