City boss relishing Barnsley reunion

10:00am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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COLIN Walker is relishing the chance of locking horns with his old club when York City continue their pre-season campaign against Barnsley at KitKat Crescent tonight (7.30pm).

Walker, head coach Eric Winstanley and youth team boss Neil Redfearn, have all spent stints on the Oakwell staff and, while stressing results were unimportant at this stage, the Minstermen boss admitted his former South Yorkshire association gave the clash a little extra spice.

“We have got to be as professional as we can,” Walker said. “We are working hard to get the best out of our players, but obviously it is going to be very, very nice to pit my wits against the club I have such fond memories of.”

Walker struck 12 goals in 24 games for Barnsley in the early 1980s before returning and holding a variety of positions ranging from youth team coach to assistant manager.

Winstanley spent 11 years at Oakwell as a player and more than 20 years on the coaching staff – including two spells as caretaker manager – before leaving the Tykes in 2001.

“I have been to Barnsley with the reserves, but this is my first time meeting them as a manager,” Walker added. “It is about how the players prepare themselves for it. They have trained a lot and Crawley is getting nearer and nearer.

“We have prepared for this game as we have for the others. We are playing against a Championship side. It will be a great test and we are looking forward to it.”

City will be without midfielder Steven Hogg and will make a late decision on striker Richard Brodie, who has picked up a minor strain in training.

Australian forward Daniel McBreen is in full training, but will not feature.

Walker continued: “The plan is for Daniel to have a bit of the game on Friday (at Harrogate Railway). These games have been invaluable. You can’t recreate it on the training ground.

“This could possibly be the last game (for using most of the squad). The last two pre-season games will see us getting towards the squad we are going to use at Crawley.

“I am very pleased with the way things have been going. It is every thing I thought it would be. It is really my first pre-season with my squad. They have bonded really well. Everyone is looking really good.”

Barnsley manager Simon Davey is likely to be without several first team players at KitKat Crescent.

Martin Devaney, Marciano Van Homoet, Istvan Ferenczi, Dennis Souza, Iain Hume, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Hugo Colace have all been in the treatment room and could miss the match.