Luke Thomas claims he’s never felt more at home as a Barnsley player as he prepares to play at the Mem for the first time since his part in last season’s promotion campaign under Joey Barton.
Thomas made 32 appearances for the Gas while on loan at BS7 and experienced something of a transformative time as, after some very public criticism of his attitude by Barton, the 24-year-old - who has previously taken time out of the game to deal with mental health issues - turned his season around to be an influential member of the squad.
Rovers were keen to recruit him on a permanent basis last summer but Michael Duff wanted to hold onto the former Cheltenham talent who made an early impact in the season before sustaining a broken leg in October.
Having recovered from that issue, Thomas is now back part of the first-team picture at Oakwell and is contention to start at the Mem, with the last time he set foot at the ground being during the May 7 celebrations after the 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe United.
The Forest of Dean-born forward is entering the final six months of his contract at Barnsley and there appears doubt as to whether he wants to extend his stay in Yorkshire, having signed from Derby County in 2019, with Rovers remaining interested parties should he become a free agent. Although his latest comments indicate that after a turbulent time at the club he is feeling increasingly settled.
"I think I have really settled now and it is the most settled since I have been here and it is my fourth year now,” Thomas, who could make his first start since October 1 having been eased back into action off the bench, told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"This year, it has felt like a home and it is down to the staff and the players. We are also really close in age and seem to be a tight-knit group and that's credit to Barnsley.
"There's loads of staff who have helped me – from the fitness team to the gaffer. Everyone really, there's always someone to talk to and the players as well. It's the only time I have ever been injured but happy, although I obviously wanted to be out there.
"But I guess that's down to the staff and the lads in keeping me involved as if I was still playing and then obviously I got the right time off that I needed. If you are going for promotion or in a relegation battle, spirit is the biggest thing you probably need and it's an advantage and we have certainly got that."
There is a strong West Country flavour in the Barnsley side with Thomas joined by Herbie Kane, who left Bristol City in 2018 to sign for Liverpool at the age of 15, and ex-Robins centre-back Robbie Cundy, although he’s unlikely to make the matchday squad having missed all of 2023 with a knee injury.
Duff will have key midfielder Josh Benson back from a hamstring issue with the 23-year-old absent since mid-January. He scored the third of Barnsley’s goals against the Gas as they were 3-0 winners at Oakwell in August. “He’s in full training and available for selection,” Duff said. “He’s a good player who can play all across midfield and cover at right wing-back.”
