Andy Yiadom addressed the waiting media at Oakwell this morning. The defender was named captain for the Queens Park Rangers match last weekend and has now called upon his teammates to all be leaders as the Reds embark on an important run of fixtures.
Andy Yiadom addressed the waiting media at Oakwell this morning. The defender was named captain for the Queens Park Rangers match last weekend and has now called upon his teammates to all be leaders as the Reds embark on an important run of fixtures.
This weekend, Yiadom will again take part if selected in a South Yorkshire derby that brings back plenty of memories from the same fixture in the 2016/17 campaign.
“I remember every bit of it.” He stated. “We got off to a good start in the first half then from a corner kick, I can’t remember who did it but someone basically yanked my arm and dislocated it. I had to go off to get it put back in, I came back on then went off to get it put back in again and then in the second half they obviously knew I had a dislocated shoulder and they pulled it out again, so I had to call it a day then. It was a sad one, but you know what we did get a good result after being 1-0 down in the last minute, I think it was Angus [MacDonald] who scored which made it one to remember.”
The 26-year-old fully understands the importance of not only the game this weekend in terms of the three points, but what it means to the fans as well. He proved how much he wanted to be a part of it last year by going against medical advice to continue in the game.
“I was in all kinds of agony! It was a derby full of adrenaline, the fans were loud and it was one of those tense games so you just kind of get through it in a way, but the adrenaline was definitely high. I think it put me out for two-and-a-half months but you don’t think about that sort of stuff when it’s a derby, you just get strapped up and crack on!
“As I mentioned, it was a derby game so anyone would just want to get back onto the pitch at that time and give it your all. Even Sedge [Craig Sedgwick, Head of Physiotherapy] was trying to keep me off but it’s the type of person I am, I wanted to get back out there and play.”
This season differs to the clash last year, with plenty of changes in both squads and a change of leadership at the top of the Reds and the Owls too. Neither side have had a good record of late in the league, but Yiadom feels that if everyone can stick together then the fortunes will soon turn around.
“Maybe both teams have had a dip in form but both teams want to go out and get a result. I know for a fact that us as a team want to get out there and put a show on for the fans to get three points, that’s what we’re aiming to do.
“This is a big game and we will need 11 leaders, so whoever is on the pitch out there need to get the team through when things aren’t going well and spur everyone on, I think that’s all that matters. Everyone needs to stay together and keep giving it a right go. We have to put everything into it and get some points now.
“I think the Fulham game everyone went out there with a really high tempo, closing them down and in their faces. We got off to a really good start, I was then really disappointed because I think we should have got something from the game but it wasn’t the case. Our performance was good that day, but we didn’t get a point which is a shame but it’s how football goes sometimes.”
View Andy Yiadom’s press conference in full on iFollow Barnsley now.
