Barnsley FC reaction given to John McAtee situation - "I'm unsure why" he did not join from Bolton | OneFootball

The Tykes were unable to see the striker return to Oakwell on Deadline Day

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...

Despite a strong start to the season on the pitch, those associated with Barnsley FC were handed a Deadline Day blow as John McAtee's potential return to Oakwell failed to materialise.

The striker is currently plying his trade at League One rivals Bolton Wanderers, and with hours remaining in the now closed summer transfer window, it looked as if he would return to South Yorkshire and bolster Conor Hourihane's attacking department on a temporary basis.

However, whilst the Tykes continued to push for the deal to go through, the 26-year-old will now remain at the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the time being, with the third-tier clubs able to potentially negotiate again when the window reopens on New Year's Day for a months' worth of business.

Barnsley FC stance offered as loan move for Bolton Wanderers' John McAtee collapses on Deadline Day

It was first reported on Monday by The Bolton News that the South Yorkshire side had lodged a loan bid for McAtee's services, two seasons after his haul of 12 goals and five assists saw the Reds make the League One play-offs, where they were ironically defeated by the forward's current employers.

At the time, it was claimed that the deal was 'under consideration' as far as Bolton and Steven Schumacher's stance was concerned, with the Lancashire side eventually snubbing the deal, despite the fact McAtee hadn't been named in recent league matchday squads against Lincoln City and Blackpool.

Given his previous record at Oakwell in the third-tier and the club's need to add bodies on top of David McGoldrick, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Reyes Cleary and Caylan Vickers in Hourihane's attacking department, Football League World's Barnsley fan pundit, Andy Symcox, would have loved to have seen McAtee donning red again, and he hasn't ruled out the club going back in for his services depending on how circumstances unfold.

"Regarding the John McAtee loan deal, I'm unsure why this did not happen," Symcox explained to FLW. "Whether or not it was Bolton who just decided to retain his services, or whether Barnsley were unwilling to commit to an obligation-to-buy option at the end of the loan spell.

"I don't know. I've seen both reports/rumours on this," he added.

"My personal view is that I would've loved to have seen John McAtee back in a Barnsley shirt, as I think we're slightly light in the striker area.

"He would've been a really good addition to us. We said throughout the transfer window that we'd like a centre-half, which we've got in Jake Rooney (from Derby County — as exclusively revealed by FLW) and also a striker.

"John would have been my personal choice to fulfil that role," Symcox added. "Sadly, it's not to be, but who knows what the future will bring, and I wish John well."

Barnsley FC will hope to avoid John McAtee, Bolton Wanderers transfer regret

With Barnsley and Bolton expected to be among the cluster of sides vying for promotion to the Championship, those associated with the Tykes will hope the club don't live to regret the failed loan switch, just weeks after their former loanee netted at Oakwell in a 1-1 draw between the two sides.

McAtee joined Bolton from Luton Town for £1m last summer and has shown glimpses of his ability as a high-end League One forward, scoring 13 times in 61 appearances so far.

Despite some believing that his omission from matchday squads against the Imps and Tangerines, it is clear that Schumacher still values his services despite also having the likes of Sam Dalby and Mason Burstow to call upon, with the Hull City loanee also having an impressive start to the season.

"All players want to play every single minute but it's just not possible. We are going to need all of the squad, because we will have injuries, we will have suspensions, we will have dips in form, and we are going to need everyone. So, yes, John is still our player," he said prior to Deadline Day.

As Symcox alluded to, who knows whether McAtee will return to the South Yorkshire side again, but for now, Hourihane will have to make do with his current attack that has still found the net 11 times in six games, the same tally as Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town.