Double Barnsley FC player exit in January debated involving Jon Russell - "he may wish" | OneFootball

FLW's Tykes fan pundit believes two players could seek a January departure from Oakwell

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Barnsley FC oversaw plenty of changes to the playing squad at Oakwell as Conor Hourihane looks to make a mark during his first full season in a managerial role.

The Tykes succumbed to a 12th-place finish in League One last term, which was the club's lowest finish since the 2003/04 campaign, finishing 17 points behind Leyton Orient, who occupied the final third-tier play-off position.

Of course, after finishing inside the top six in the two campaigns prior to last term - which resulted in heartbreak in the final and semi-finals to Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers respectively - the aim for the South Yorkshire club is to assert themselves as one of the division's strongest performers once more.

In total, Hourihane welcomed eight new faces to the Reds across the summer transfer window, whilst a plethora of players departed on a permanent or loan basis, such as Sam Cosgrove, Max Watters, Corey O'Keefe, Donovan Pines, Stephen Humphreys and Josh Benson.

Of course, the club will only be allowed to make any further changes to their squad in the free agent market or in January, meaning Hourihane is left with his current options for an upcoming four-month period of largely uninterrupted League One, FA Cup and EFL Trophy action.

With that in mind, Football League World asked our Barnsley FC fan pundit, Andy Smycox, if there are any players currently within the Tykes' ranks that may seek a January exit having failed to move clubs in the recent window.

Jon Russell and Jackson Smith named as potential Barnsley FC, January departures following summer window retention

Symcox selected two names currently at Oakwell, in the form of central midfielder Jon Russell and goalkeeper, Jackson Smith.

Russell has made just shy of 100 appearances for Barnsley since joining from Huddersfield Town in the winter of 2023, and was one of the club's most consistent performers last term, scoring 11 goals from midfield, whilst Smith has featured just six times for the club since moving from Walsall last summer.

"There are a couple of names who come to mind. Firstly, Jon Russell," Symcox told FLW.

"Jon's contract is up at the end of the season, and currently he isn't starting league games. Sometimes he comes on as a substitute, sometimes he doesn't.

"He, for me, is a vital member of the squad," Symcox claimed. "But, he will want to be playing.

"If the situation continues into January - where he isn't starting league games - then he may wish to seek a move elsewhere so he can get first-team football at the start of every match.

"Indeed, we may wish to sell him if he isn't willing to sign a new contract," he added.

"The other player is Jackson Smith. He's been with the club for two seasons now, and he doesn't seem to be in anyone's plans.

"I'm surprised he hasn't gone out on loan, and as far as I know, he's not injured.

"We have Murphy Cooper as our 'number one' keeper, although he's on loan, and Kieren Flavell as back-up.

"So, Jackson Smith, even if he is fit, and I assume he is, isn't going to get near the first team," Symcox stated.

Jon Russell and Jackson Smith will be hoping to source regular minutes with Barnsley or another club in the near future

It isn't surprising that Symcox still values Russell as a key member of the squad when taking his previous contributions into account. However, the 24-year-old will not be satisfied by the fact that all of his league appearances thus far have come as a substitute.

Football League World exclusively revealed that a quartet of Championship sides - Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Oxford United - had all expressed an interest in signing the midfielder earlier in the summer. It remains to be seen if such interest is rekindled in January, as the former Chelsea man seeks the minutes that will see him into Jamaica's squad should the 'Reggae Boyz' qualify for next summer's FIFA World Cup.

With the midfielder currently out-of-contract next summer, Barnsley could also view the winter window as a way of gaining funds for his services, or risk losing them for nothing in June.

Smith is in a similar predicament, having made just a handful of appearances for the Tykes and Grimsby Town during an 'emergency loan' last term.

At 23 years of age, the former Wolves academy graduate needs to seek regular minutes before the risk of a stagnant career period comes in to play, and it doesn't look like that will be guaranteed at Oakwell anytime soon, even with his contract running until 2028.