Dani Pinillos is chomping at the bit to get back playing with the Reds in the Sky Bet Championship.
Having missed a large chunk of pre-season following an injury he sustained at the end of the previous campaign, it has been important for the Spaniard to keep his fitness levels high, despite being away from the rest of the squad.
“I didn’t travel to France or Germany, I’ve just been training for two weeks alone,” said Pinillos. “But I have been training very hard and now I feel much better.
“I wasn’t allowed to do exercise for a whole two months! So as you can imagine, the first week was very hard, but now I’m feeling better so I am happy.”
Following promotion last season, Barnsley now face the challenge of the Championship once again. Pinillos, who has been a mainstay in the defence for the last two years, believes that the Reds can make the step up.
“We have signed many good, new players,” he continued. “Sometimes that can be hard at first, not knowing everyone. But we have all got on really well, worked hard in training and have performed very well in the friendlies. I think we will have a good season, and start it with the three points!”
The former Córdoba full-back has made 43 appearances in the second tier with both Barnsley and Nottingham Forest, but, at 26-years-old, he is one of the oldest and most experienced players in what is a young Reds side.
However, that hasn’t phased him and he is in fact enjoying that extra responsibility.
“It’s strange because I am still young myself at 26,” asserted Pinillos. “And yet I am the second oldest in the squad. But I’m just trying to help the young players as well as I can. Like Ben (Williams) for example, he plays in my position so I like to think I can help him become better.
“It might be a young squad but everyone is really excited and will give 120% in every game. We will all be ready for the Championship!”
