When he joined Barnsley back in the summer of 2019, much will have been expected of Toby Sibbick.

Having previously impressed in League One with AFC Wimbledon, the move to Oakwell ought to have been Sibbick's chance to prove he was capable of making the step up to Championship level.

But after just half a season with Barnsley, the centre back was sent out of loan to Scotland with Heart of Midlothian, where he made just a handful of appearances for the Edinburgh club, as they were relegated from the Scottish Premiership on a points-per-game basis following the season's cancellation.

Sibbick's return to Barnsley in the summer was a brief one, with 21-year-old again leaving Oakwell on a temporary basis, this time joining KV Oostende in the Belgian top-flight.

That move however, has yet to really show any signs of proving effective for Sibbick, with the defender yet to make his competitive debut for his new senior club.

 

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Indeed, Sibbick has only even found himself named on the bench for Oostende in two of their nine league games so far this season.

For their part, Oostende do seem to be coping reasonably well without Sibbick in their side, winning four and losing just two of those nine games so far, ensuring they sit tenth in the 18-team division.

Consequentially, it could be difficult for Sibbick to force his way into the side, if injuries and suspensions do not start to take their toll and present him with an opportunity to do so in that way.

That is something Sibbick may well be hoping happens sooner rather than later, then he can finally get back to playing regular first-team football, something he has not done for quite some time now, following that injury-hit spell with Hearts.

Indeed, it could be argued he needs to do that in order to demonstrate his worth to either Barnsley or another club on a long-term basis beyond this season.

If he is unable to do that, then with three more years remaining on his contract with the Tykes, the prospect of a few more loan moves, could well be on the cards.