‘Such a strange signing’, ‘Needs game time’ – These Barnsley fans react as forward player departs

Barnsley have confirmed a temporary departure, with young forward Patrick Schmidt heading back to his native Austria on loan.

Schmidt, a Gerhard Struber signing in 2019, has found game-time hard to come by this season due to the good form of Cauley Woodrow.

The 22-year-old has been rooted to the substitutes’ bench for 15 of Barnsley’s last 16 league encounters, with Valerien Ismael choosing to use fellow young striker Victor Adeboyejo and Carlton Morris instead.

But in order to not stall his development, Schmidt has joined SV Ried in the Austrian top flight for the rest of the season – their transfer window being open until Monday has given Barnsley an extra opportunity to ship out players on the fringes of the first-team.

Were each of these 20 former Barnsley players left or right footed?

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Alfie Mawson

Left Right

Ried sit 10th out of 12 teams in the Austrian Bundesliga, and they’ll be hoping that Schmidt can fire in some goals that will help them climb out of the relegation round places and into the Championship round of the league, in which a top-six finish is needed.

Schmidt has only scored four goals for Barnsley in 18 months but in truth he’s only started seven times in all competitions in that time period, and this loan move could be the making of him.

Tykes fans have been reacting to the news and some believe he should have been given more of a chance by Ismael – check out some of the responses below.

Good luck, cheers for THAT goal last season ❤️

— Allen Cooper (@FootieIndexAl) February 6, 2021

Good luck Patrick, unfortunately like quite a few others we have on our books he just doesn't suit our current style of play.

— Steve Rose (@SteveRose1968) February 6, 2021

gutted pipo left on loan hope he does come back

— Tyke Gaming (@tyke_gamin) February 6, 2021

Good move for him. Needs game time.

— Shaun Sefton (@sefton_shaun) February 6, 2021

Good luck Patrick! Still remember that goal at Millwall!👍

— Jules (@thehotdogshop) February 6, 2021

Good luck Patrick, enjoy your loan spell.

— Helen Broom (@e5c570960b9c41a) February 6, 2021

All the best Patrick 👏👏👏

— paz48 (@rayzor1971) February 6, 2021

Gutting

— James Hirst (@JamesH_Bfc) February 6, 2021

Upon replacing Kieffer Moore, this lad was automatically (unfairly) hailed by some as the most potent finisher in the clubs history. You’d be daft to write him off but he was a good 2-3 years away from being ready for our first team. Such a strange signing considering the outlay. https://t.co/b2eDcMf1cW

— George (@Georgrundo) February 6, 2021

Best thing for him really. Go out and get some regular game time. https://t.co/N8Wz5ChBAf

— James Allen (@jrallen__) February 6, 2021