The 2020/21 campaign was a magical one for Barnsley in many ways, seeing them become the Championship's surprise package and surge to a top six finish. 

However, with manager Valerien Ismael departing to take charge at West Bromwich Albion, it's hard to know what to expect from the Tykes in the upcoming campaign.

The most recent reports have suggested that TSV Hartberg boss Markus Schopp is the frontrunner to become Ismael's replacement at Oakwell but it remains to be seen whether that will materialise.

Building on the progress made last season is going to be difficult with a new manager in charge while filling the shoes left by the departing Tykes boss is going to be no mean feat.

It is now less than six weeks until the Championship season gets underway and Barnsley now know that it will be Mick McCarthy's Cardiff City for them first up.

With that in mind, we've taken an early look at what the Tykes XI could look like...

Having cemented his place as Barnsley's first choice between the sticks during their hugely impressive late-season run, Brad Collins looks likely to be in possession of the number one shirt for the 2021/22 curtain-raiser.

The 24-year-old joined from Chelsea on a free transfer in 2019 and produced surely the best form of his Oakwell career through the first few months of 2021.

With nine clean sheets in 22 games, Collins showcased his quality as a Championship shot-stopper and it would be a surprise to see him lost his place.

He should be high in confidence heading into the new season and at 24, his best years should be ahead of him.

As we don't yet know exactly who will be taking charge at Oakwell, we're assuming the Tykes will stick to the 3-4-3 system they finished last season in.

One of those spots will surely be filled by Mads Bech Andersen, who didn't miss a single Championship game last season.

The Danish central defender has been a regular fixture since joining from AC Horsens in 2019 but, like a number of players in the squad, he stepped up his level last term.

Barnsley will be hoping for more of that in 2021/22 and Andersen looks likely to face a physical battle first up, with a trip to face Cardiff on the opening weekend.

Few centre-backs have had more impressive debut seasons in the Championship than Barnsley's Michal Helik did in 2020/21.

The 25-year-old was dominant defensively for the Tykes and proved a real nuisance in the opposition box as well – scoring six times and adding two assists.

That form earned him a nomination for the FLW Fans' Championship Player of the Season award and saw him included in the Poland national team squad for Euro 2020.

On his return to Oakwell, the defender will surely be a key figure once again no matter who takes charge of the Yorkshire club next.

Completing Barnsley's youthful backline is Tony Sibbick, who looked as though he could've been on his way out of Oakwell before Ismael's arrival.

The out-of-favour defender was sent on loan to first Hearts and then KV Oostende but after returning in December he forced himself into the starting XI.

Should Barnsley stick with a back-three, you feel it would make sense to keep Sibbick as the right centre-back as that worked so effectively in the latter part of last season.

If the new manager is looking for a bit more experience then Michael Sollbauer could slot in instead but the 22-year-old may just get the nod.

On the left of the midfield four is one of the players that was most impressive for the Tykes last term, Callum Styles.

Styles' first goal for the club kept them in the Championship in 2019/20 and his importance to the side has swelled ever since.

His energy and dynamism made him a key attacking weapon for the Tykes last term and highlighted just what a bright future the 21-year-old has.

There have been links with a move to the Premier League but assuming Barnsley can keep hold of him, he'll surely start on the left flank against Cardiff on the 7th of August.

It appears increasingly likely that captain Alex Mowatt will leave the club this summer, with his contract set to expire and reports suggesting that Ismael is targeting him after his move to West Brom.

That will be a huge blow for the Tykes but it may hand an opportunity to Herbie Kane in central midfield.

The former Liverpool man joined in a seven-figure move back in October and looked to be finding his feet in his debut season at Oakwell before a knee injury sidelined him for the run-in.

Back fit, Kane looks the likely replacement for Mowatt in central midfield.

The Tykes have now shortage of bright up-and-coming players and among those is 22-year-old central midfielder Romal Palmer.

The departure of Matty James in January left a space to be filled and it was Palmer that grabbed that opportunity with both hands, becoming a mainstay in the side.

Whether he can be as effective without Mowatt next to him remains to be seen but given the way he finished last season, you feel the Oakwell academy product could well start in the season opener against Cardiff.

He'll have his work cut out for him against a well-structured and physical Bluebirds side.

Another 2020 summer signing that proved his worth in his debut season, whatever formation the Tykes line up in, you'd expect Callum Brittain to have a place on the right flank.

The former MK Dons man is comfortable as both a right-back and at right wing-back, having impressed the most as the latter under Ismael.

The 23-year-old showed his quality going forward as well as his resolve in defence – providing six assists last term.

Assuming Barnsley line up in a similar formation on the opening weekend against Cardiff, it would be a shock to see anyone other than Brittain on the right side of the midfield four.

The only summer signing that Barnsley have made so far, Devante Cole joined the Yorkshire club from Motherwell after hammering in 16 goals and providing eight assists last term.

Cole impressed while on loan from Manchester City at Oakwell back in 2014 and will be hoping to have a similar impact seven years later.

Though Barnsley have are plenty of forward options at the moment, the summer signing looks likely to play out on the left of the front three against Cardiff – a position that he's had success in before.

Cole will no doubt be keen to make a fast start to his second spell with the Tykes.

Playing through the middle against Cardiff will surely be Cauley Woodrow, who has been such a reliable player for Barnsley since making the move from Fulham.

Woodrow bagged 15 goals and six assists last term – featuring in a range of positions as he showcased what a versatile attacker he is.

Even so, you feel we can expect to see him in his preferred central role for the season opener against the Bluebirds.

With a new manager at the helm and Cole arriving in the summer, the 26-year-old will want to show why he deserves to remain the Tykes' first-choice number nine.

One of a number of shrewd January signings, Carlton Morris' first six months at Barnsley were hugely impressive – seeing the 25-year-old score seven goals and add three assists.

He was forced to make an impact from the bench early on but fought himself into contention for a starting spot as the season wore on.

Now settled at Oakwell and with a full pre-season on his belt, Morris is likely to be high on confidence and could be the player that gets the nod on the right side of the forward line.

The likes of Conor Chaplin, Dominik Frieser, and Victor Adeboyejo will also be pushing for a place in the side.