Three of Barnsley’s young guns have earned recognition today with Ashley Fletcher and Callum Connolly called up by England and Barnsley’s very own homegrown starlet James Bree nominated for the Football League Apprentice of the Year award.
18 year old Bree who progressed through the youth ranks at Oakwell made his debut in the final game of the 2013-2014 season and has gone on to make a further 36 appearances, 26 of them starts and 22 of them coming this campaign which has been a real breakthrough season for the Wakefield born fullback. This has not gone unnoticed by the Football League and Bree is now up against Blackpool’s Bright Osavi-Samuel and Swindon’s Thomas Smith for the Apprentice of the Year gong.
Elsewhere on loan Manchester United forward Fletcher has been called up to the England Under 20 squad for their friendly with Canada on Easter Sunday. The game which takes place just down the road at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium is the first match in permanent charge for Keith Downing and 20 year old Fletcher who has netted four times in 14 games for The Reds is set to miss Barnsley’s Good Friday clash with Scunthorpe and the Easter Monday trip to Port Vale as a result.
Defender Callum Connolly who has made two starts for The Reds since arriving on loan from Everton has been named in the England Under 19 squad for their fixtures in the Elite Round of the UEFA Under19s European Championship. England will face Georgia on Thursday 24th March, Greece two days later and then Spain on Tuesday 29th March as they look to qualify for this summer’s finals in Germany. Like Fletcher, Connolly will miss the Scunthorpe and Port Vale matches.
Finally striker Harry White has joined National League side Boreham Wood on loan until the end of April. The 21 year old joined Barnsley from Gloucester in September and has made two substitute appearances in the Johnstones’ Paint Trophy. He joins a Boreham Wood side only one point and one place above the relegation zone.