Barnsley could allow keeper Jackson Smith to leave the club in a surprising move, as confirmed by the Barnsley Chronicle.
Smith only signed for the Tykes over the summer, so a loan move would seem to be a surprise. Smith was an unused sub this weekend as Darrell Clarke’s side lost 2-1 to Mansfield Town, and the former Walsall keeper is now likely to fall further down the pecking order.
That’s because Barnsley have recruited USMNT international Gabriel Slonina on loan from Chelsea. He joined the Oakwell outfit on Friday and looks set to play in the EFL Cup at Wigan tomorrow. That pushes 22-year-old Smith out of the matchday squad as regular stopper Ben Killip drops to the bench.
“Jackson took a bit of time to get used to the pace of our training and the way we work,” said Clarke “He’s settling a bit and he’s fighting to be number one but we’ll look at loan options if they are right. We see him as a long-term asset but it’s important he gets gametime with his lack of experience.”
Smith joined the Tykes at the start of July, penning a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He made 23 appearances for the Saddlers, having joined them from Wolves in the summer of 2023.
At the time of his signing, Barnsley Sporting Director Mladen Sormaz said: “Jackson is an exciting young goalkeeper, and we are very happy to welcome him to Oakwell. Whilst being a good shot-stopper, he can play with his feet and commands his box well. We’re extremely pleased to secure his services amongst interest from other clubs and look forward to him joining our pre-season.”
Born in Telford, the young keeper came through the ranks at nearby Wovles, enjoying a loan spell at Kettering before a temporary switch to Walsall. They went back in for him last summer, and after impressing in the Football League Trophy, he made his League Two debut away at Barrow. He made the number one jersey his own over Christmas and finished with five clean sheets.
He may now get a chance to tackle League Two once again, as the Tykes are unlikely to loan him to a club in the same division.
Writer’s View
This will be a slap in the face for the young keeper. He’s surely not signed for Barnsley to go back out on loan, especially not given the length of the deal – four years is not the sort of contract you give to a project keeper who may or may not feature.
Darrell Clarke’s comments are also unlikely to boost the players’ confidence. Saying he took ‘time to get used to the pace of our training’ after little over four weeks makes quite a big statement.
If he does go out on loan for a season, there’s every chance he could come back to a new manager. Barnsley’s defeat at Mansfield might be one of those odd opening-day results, but many observers have them down as strugglers this season, meaning Clarke might not see out the full campaign anyway.
Either way, this latest news does point to an uncertain future for the keeper.
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