Josh Benson interview: Barnsley midfielder on relegation ache, Michael Duff’s affect and desires of sooner or later returning to the Premier League

Playing League One soccer was unlikely to have been something greater than an afterthought in Josh Benson’s thoughts as he developed throughout a decade at Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy.

It most likely couldn’t have been any farther from his thoughts when he made his Premier League debut for Burnley throughout the 2020/21 season – and when he joined Barnsley in July 2021, it was a matter of months after they defied the chances to achieve the Championship play-offs, so the dialog was very a lot centered on progress.

But the very fact of the matter is, within the third tier, the 22-year-old is beginning to prosper and correctly ignite his promising profession.

He has began 13 of the Tykes’ 17 league matches and has 4 targets – one in all which gained him the September Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month award – and two assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Meanwhile, forward of MK Dons’ journey to Oakwell on Saturday, his facet sit eighth within the desk, one level exterior the play-off locations with a recreation in hand.

Those figures signify a marked enchancment all spherical; Benson made 27 appearances all through a marketing campaign disrupted by harm, whereas Barnsley completed 11 factors adrift of security on the backside of the Championship, with neither Markus Schopp or Poya Asbaghi capable of cease the rot that set in quickly.

It goes with out saying that he has a reasonably robust incentive for setting the document straight.

“Getting relegated last season still hurts now, but you’ve got to put that behind you and move on,” says Benson in an unique interview with Sky Sports.

“It’s not going to be the only down in my career – I’m going to have loads of ups and downs – but it’s built me as a character and is definitely going to help me. I feel like I’ve gained experienced from it and matured as a player from having it.

“From that, you get doubters and people doubting your ability, so you have to try and prove them wrong because, deep down, you know what sort of player you are and what you can achieve. It’s only me holding myself back.”

Working with Barnsley supervisor Michael Duff has been a big consider his improvement, too.

But that has not solely been the case since Duff arrived in South Yorkshire from Cheltenham this summer time – he was the person that introduced Benson to Burnley from Arsenal in 2018 and coached him within the U23s for a brief spell earlier than taking up his first senior administration function with the Gloucestershire-based membership.

The risk of a reunion was at all times going to show to be a giant draw.

“I was excited to work with him because I’d worked with him at Burnley and I feel like he is good for what I need at this moment in time,” Benson provides.

“He taught me a lot and has already added a few bits to my game this season. He just gives me little tips, which are more for mentality; to stay consistent week in, week out, to stick to the basics and the quality will come through.

“I do really feel it has to return from inside as properly, although.

“I really rate him as a manager – I’ve got to say that, but I genuinely do. The boys are buying into what he is trying to encourage and we feel really confident this season.”

In spite of that confidence, Barnsley have not likely been capable of set up the rhythm that may set the cat among the many pigeons on the high of the division. They did go unbeaten from August 27 to October 8, climbing into the highest six in consequence, however then they misplaced three of the subsequent 4 and dropped out.

That mentioned, Duff’s staff are presently on a run of three straight wins in all competitions and, together with Bolton, they’ve the joint-best defensive document in League One, with 14 targets conceded in 17 video games, simply six of which have been shipped within the second half.

“I’m really enjoying this season,” Benson provides. “We’re together, we’re a good bunch of lads and we all get on really well.

“We’ve had just a few nice outcomes and good performances, and a few dangerous ones as properly, however we have to present consistency now to be good each week. As a staff, we’re taking every recreation because it comes alongside, every Saturday or Tuesday, and attempting to win each recreation.

“Given the signings we made in the summertime, I believe we’re on the stage the place we all know what kind of gamers we’re, whether or not somebody desires the ball crossed in early or whether or not they’ll run in behind. We’re beginning to know what to anticipate from one another.

“We are a very energetic team and we need to use that to our advantage.

“But you possibly can’t go into this league considering you might be higher than sure groups. Every staff on this league is of a superb normal – there are groups in the direction of the underside that could possibly be up in the direction of the highest half on the finish. You simply should take each staff the identical means.”

The conversation briefly turns to Benson’s Premier League experience.

He was handed his top-flight bow by Sean Dyche just under two years ago and played 90 minutes as the Clarets were thumped 5-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad. He went on to appear five more times in the league that season and made 12 first team appearances first of all.

Add that to the fact he grew up at Arsenal watching Jack Wilshere rise through the youth ranks to the first team and played in the same team as Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson and you can understand why he would love to return.

“At Arsenal, my age group was really good. I saw Alex Iwobi break through, Emile Smith Rowe was my age and he broke through and Bukayo Saka was a few years younger. We all grew up together.

“My finish purpose is to play within the PL once more sooner or later and I would not thoughts enjoying for Arsenal, to be truthful!

But, for the time being, I’m simply attempting to play properly each week, prepare arduous and play properly on the weekends for Barnsley.

“We have a great squad and we want to be towards the top of the table. We’re not trying to look too far into it, but we want to win every game we go into. Our main goal is to get promoted.”