Barnsley are still on a high after their fantastic promotion last season, masterminded by a marvellous first season from Daniel Stendel, who took over the club upon their relegation in 2017/18.
The Tykes were excellent in League One, defying the odds to fight off strong competition from the likes of Portsmouth and Sunderland in the final weeks of the season.
The Oakwell club had many players who excelled in the third tier that look ready for the Championship, but they have been hit by a number of key men leaving the club, such as Liam Lindsay and Adam Davies, both of whom joined Stoke City.
There are a number of fringe players who will be eager to step up, as well as a plethora of new signings who have a big season ahead of them as they look to replace and hopefully improve the players they have stepped in for.
Here, we list three players at the club that really need to step up and perform early on in pre-season, with a big campaign ahead of them on a personal level.
Do you agree, or can you think of a player we’ve missed who needs to up his game in pre-season ahead of a huge season for the club? Let us know in the comments section below.
Samuel Sahin-Radlinger
Samuel Sahin-Radlinger is the man Barnsley have trusted to replace Adam Davies.
The Austrian goalkeeper joined the club on a free transfer from German outfit Hannover 96, and will hopefully use pre-season to show Daniel Stendel he has the abilities needed to replace Davies and be a star for the Tykes.
Dani Pinillos
Dani Pinillos moved down the footballing ladder when he joined the Tykes from Nottingham Forest, so he has a big season ahead of him, as he looks to prove he is good enough at this level.
The Spaniard was in and out of the side last season, but will hope to lay down a regular spot in the Championship.
Aapo Halme
Aapo Halme has joined the club from fellow Championship side Leeds United, and this could be seen as a chance to really state his name in English football.
The defender made just four appearances for the Whites last season, but with less competition at Barnsley, he could really make a name for himself.
He will hope to use pre-season as a way to prove to Stendel that he should be a starting player, as he embarks on his first full season as a professional player in a first team.