Following the agonising 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon, Clarke Oduor says he and his Barnsley teammates still have belief that they can maintain their Sky Bet Championship status.
The 20-year-old made his Reds debut as he was introduced from the bench late on in South Wales and insists that performances of late have been positive.
“I’m confident that we can stay up, especially if we keep playing as we are; it’ll happen for us down the line and I feel like we can get the points to stay up,” said Oduor.
“We’re a young team, but I think we’re good enough to stay up. Everyone is learning and, as the games go on, we’re growing in confidence.”
Oduor had been in Gerhard Struber’s previous two matchday squads, although he didn’t feature against Middlesbrough or Hull City.
The versatile youngster has caught the eye in training and with a number of impressive displays at U23 level this campaign, prompting his new Head Coach to reward him with an opportunity.
“It’s been really good; almost a breath of fresh air,” continued Oduor. “He [Struber] has brought his own style of play and we’re trying to play it out from the back a bit more, which I think is good for the boys because I believe we can do that.”
A summer arrival from Leeds United, Oduor has settled in well to life at Oakwell – although there were a few familiar faces in the dressing room to help him do so.
Both Aapo Halme and Malik Wilks also made the switch to South Yorkshire ahead of the campaign, and Oduor admits it was easier to make that transition.
“It’s been good,” he said. “It’s obviously a new challenge for me because I’ve been at Leeds for a long time, but, after coming here, the players and staff have all made me feel welcome and there’s a good togetherness.
“It’s good to have them [Halme and Wilks] here because it means I’m not alone; knowing some of the boys here made it easier to settle in.”