Bradshaw labels Barnsley return 'surreal'

Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw has labelled his return to the club as "surreal" after joining on loan from Championship side Oxford United on transfer deadline day.

The 33-year-old previously played for the Tykes between 2016 and 2018 and scored 21 goals in 93 appearances in all before moving to Millwall.

Now back for a second spell at Oakwell, Bradshaw says it is good to call South Yorkshire home again.

"It was surreal. I've always looked back fondly on Barnsley and it's been a club that I've followed from afar," former Wales international Bradshaw told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I've never been back to a former club so it was a new experience for me but the bones of the club are very much still the same. Things are in different rooms now but it was a surreal day coming back speaking to (head coach) Conor (Hourihane).

"I left Barnsley eight years ago - I had a great relationship with the fans. I'm very grateful and hopefully I can provide some goals for them."

Bradshaw will be hoping to fill the void left by top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn - who contributed 13 goals for Barnsley in League One this season - before moving on to Wrexham just hours before the winter transfer window closed.

After making his second debut against Bolton on Saturday, Bradshaw is expected to lead the line alongside fellow veteran - 38-year-old David McGoldrick - as Barnsley look to preserve their third-tier status, currently sitting 15th and five points above the relegation zone.

Following Keillor-Dunn's departure, McGoldrick is now the club's leading marksman with seven goals in the league this season, having arrived from Notts County in the summer.

"On the first day, he [McGoldrick] said how are we young man? And I thought no one has called me a young man for a long time," Bradshaw said.

"I've played against Didzy quite a few times over the years – we've got a lot of mutual friends.

"From watching from afar, he's been brilliant since coming to the club so it's a relationship I want to nurture and hopefully the way that we play together will only get better and better."