In what has been an excellent debut season for Barnsley since their return to the Sky Bet Championship, as the South Yorkshire side sit just outside of the play-off places.

Compared to Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion, Barnsley have been the most successful newly promoted side, out of the three.

This is a particularly impressive feat considering some of their key players, including James Bree, Alfie Mawson, Sam Winnall and Conor Hourihane,  have been lost to Premier League sides and fellow Championship rivals.

Despite the setbacks, Paul Heckingbottom has managed the side excellently for Barnsley to continue to defy the odds when many expected them to struggle.

As a pro-active manager, Paul Heckingbottom will have already begun assessing the squad and determining which fringe players should leave in the summer.

FLW writer Elliott Wheat-Bowen looks at two Barnsley fringe players who need to be offloaded from the team in the summer.

Elliot Lee

The arrival of Elliot Lee on a free transfer from West Ham United to Barnsley in the summer appeared to be yet another astute signing by the South Yorkshire club.

The 22-year-old striker had a point to prove and there was a buzz of anticipation surrounding the former West Ham United striker.

However, Elliot Lee has only managed to make three appearances for Barnsley this season, all of which have been off the substitute bench.

Elliot Lee has struggled to challenge Sam Winnall earlier in the season and more recently Adam Armstrong and Tom Bradshaw for a place in the starting line-up.

Having barely featured in Barnsley's match-day squad since the turn of the year, making the bench just three times, Elliot Lee is on the outer fringes of Barnsley's squad and could be offloaded in the summer as Heckingbottom looks to make space for new arrivals.

Aidy White

The 25-year-old full back joined Barnsley from fellow South Yorkshire side Rotherham United in the January transfer window.

With a vast amount of experience in the Championship with Leeds United and Rotherham United, White would've been hoping to cement a place in Barnsley's starting line-up.

However, a lengthy period on the sidelines due to injury has led to Aidy White falling down the pecking order, behind Andy Yiadom.

Andy Yiadom's string of excellent consistent performances has seen Aidy White struggle to break back into the Barnsley side having returned from injury.

With a lack of regular first-team football and the success of Andy Yiadom, Aidy White may be one of Barnsley's fringe players that Paul Heckingbottom looks to offload in the summer.