After a disappointing first half of the season it looked like the season would be a dead rubber for Barnsley and that staying in the league was the priority, however the team underwent a meteoric rise up the table started by manager Lee Johnson and finished by caretaker boss (Now full time boss) Paul Heckingbottom in which Barnsley sneaked into the play offs and then triumphed in the final with a 3-1 win against Millwall.

Heckingbottom also led them to the Johnstone Paint Trophy final along the way where they also triumphed with a victory over then League Two Oxford United. Since promotoion Barnsley have done some smart business in the transfer market bringing in the likes of George Moncur, Elliot Lee and Tom Bradshaw all of whom impressed with good seasons in League One last time out.

They have also added young Liverpool winger Ryan Kent who will be hopeful of having a good campaign and impressing the fans at Oakwell. Survival will be the first aim for this Barnsley side, however many pundits have tipped them as being better than a relegation battle.

This article takes a look at THREE players who will form the core of the club next season.

Alfie Mawson

Any team must be built on the solid foundation of a good defence and in former Brentford trainee Alfie Mawson, Barnsley have a young, strong imposing centre back with bags of potential. In recent weeks he has been the subject of transfer speculation and has been linked to various top end Championship clubs, although Barnsley will be desperate to hold onto their key man.

Mawson started his career at Brentford although he did fail to make a single appearance for the first team, he enjoyed numerous loan spells while at the club with the likes of non league Maidenhead United and Welling United and also with Luton Town. But, it was his loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers where Mawson excelled and caught the eye of numerous clubs, in League Two he played a crucial part in Wycombe's campaign making 45 appearances and scoring an impressive 6 goals.

His performacnes while on loan at Adams park alerted Barnsley to the 22-year-old and they quickly swooped in and contracted him to a three year deal in the summer of 2015. Mawson had an incredibly successful season in helping Barnsley to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy title and promotion to the Championship, he made 48 appearances scoring 7 goals and has quickly become a fans favorite at Oakwell.

Many Barnsley fans will be desperate to see Mawson replicate the same sort of form that he showed last year and help them push up the Championship table.

Conor Hourihane

Next comes club captain and HUGE fans favourite Conor Hourihane.

Hourihane is the creative spark in the engine room of this Barnsley team and is someone who possess terrific technical ability and is able to grab games by the scruff of the neck and dictate the tempo of games. He has a great eye for a pass and exceptional vision, he is the play-maker of the team and also is a source of goals from the midfield area.

The former Sunderland trainee signed for The Tykes in the summer of 2014 from Plymouth Argyle for a fee believed to be around a quarter of a million pounds. Prior to joining Barnsley, Hourihane enjoyed three good years playing in League Two for Plymouth Argyle where he made 142 appearances scoring 16 goals. Since signing for Barnsley he has made 80 appearances for the club and has scored an impressive tally of 22 goals in that time. Hourihane is widely regarded as somewhat of a set-piece specialist as he has a wicked corner and a deadly free-kick in his arsenal.

He is a key cog in this Barnsley team and will be looking to kick on and prove to his doubters that he can be just as effective after making the step up to the Championship.

Tom Bradshaw

The signing of young Welsh international striker Tom Bradshaw injected a lot of excitement into the fans of Barnsley.

Bradshaw signed for The Tykes off the back of two prolific seasons for League one club Walsall where in each of the past two seasons he has scored 20 goals. Towards the end of last season he earned his first cap for the Welsh senior team after previously being capped at under 19 and under 21 level and Bradshaw sees the step up in class to the 2nd tier of English football a great way to enhance his chances of earning more caps for the Euro 2016 semi-finalists.

Bradshaw was in the provisional squad for the Euro's but had to withdraw due to injury. Barnsley had to fight off other clubs for the young man as he was of great interest to a number of Championship sides including South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United. He will be keen to prove to any doubters that he can make the step up to the Championship and with his knack of being in the right place at the right time and with his poachers instinct many pundits have predicted Bradsahw can score goals at any level provided he gets the right service.

With a supply line of players like Adam Hammill, Conor Hourihane and a strike partner of Sam Winall it is clear that Bradshaw will get plenty of chances to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form in the forthcoming campaign.

Barnsley fans, what do you think? Do you agree? Let us know in the comments!