Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom has backed on loan Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong to make the improvements necessary to recapture his early season form.
The 20 year old has not scored in his last four matches for the Tykes but Heckingbottom told the Yorkshire Post that the forward’s hard work both in training and matches should start to pay off:
“Nobody works harder. We are doing lots of things with him, watching videos to try and open his eyes to different types of goals he needs to score. We have jumped up a league, he has jumped up a league, and he doesn’t just want to be an impact player. He wants to score different types of goals, and is definitely a player people will try and target and try to stop.”
Armstrong has scored five goals and provided three assists in 27 games in all competitions this season, and he has started the last five games for Heckingbottom’s side.
The experience he is getting in the Championship this season will be invaluable for the young striker. With speculation growing over Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future in the North East, Armstrong could return to Newcastle next season with more opportunities for first team action.
Much will however depend on his development this season, and whether manager Rafa Benitez prefers to bring in another high profile signing up front next summer.
