Ryan Hedges completed his deadline-day move to the Reds on a permanent basis and gave his first interview.
Upon signing for the Reds, Hedges spoke to Barnsley Player HD about how pleased he is to join the Club.
He said, “I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get going now. I came into the Club and met the manager all day, it seems everything here is really good and it made me realise I definitely wanted to be here.
"I am really looking forward to moving on. I am grateful to Yeovil for the opportunity and the games I got there but now I am ready to kick on again and try to help Barnsley push into the play-off positions.
“I have sat down with the Gaffer and saw his plans for me so now I just want to kick on as much as I can to help the team win and get them higher up the table. I know there is a great atmosphere here and I can’t wait to get out there and sample it myself.”
Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom moved quickly to secure another of his January targets by bringing Hedges to the Club on a permanent deal. The winger told us what he said.
“He didn’t have to say much! He told me he had watched me a few times and he likes the way I play. He said my style would fit into the way the Barnsley play and that I am the right mould of player for him. I hope that I will do that and the attacking style of play going forwards and being direct suits the way I play so hopefully I can fit in well.”
The winger has managed to catch some of the Reds’ matches this season through television channels and he hopes he can come into the Club to hit the ground running straight away.
“Barnsley have been on Sky Sports a couple of times so I have managed to see some of the games. I caught the Leeds game which was a great win and in a local derby as well. They’ve got into a great position and now hopefully we can continue to move up the table.
“This is the next chapter in my career and I can’t wait to make that step-up to playing in the Championship, which is a level I feel I can play at so I can’t wait to get going now.”
A versatile two-footed attacking player, Hedges then gave us an insight into how he likes to play.
“Being a winger I am quite attacking and direct. I have got pace and I like to use it to get balls into the box, get behind defenders and hopefully try and score and assist, creating as many opportunities as possible whilst I am out there.
“I can play up-top but I am more of a winger, I can play on the left or the right. Wherever the Gaffer puts me though I will do my best and give 100% out there.”
Hedges becomes the latest Welsh member of the Oakwell set-up, with many of his teammates being eligible for the Welsh National side. He hopes to keep progressing and gain international recognition.
“I think this move will only help me with that. Playing in the Championship week in week out will hopefully take me and my game to the next step and I am hoping to gain a senior cap at some point.
“I know a couple of the lads here already, especially Gethin Jones as we have played together for Wales U21s. I’ve seen most of the other lads play on Sky so I know it’ll be a good group to get into and play with.”
