Flicker To Teach Reuben

Barnsley boss David Flitcroft believes that Reuben Noble-Lazarus has all the right tools to become a left wing back.

Noble-Lazarus filled in at left back in the home draw to Derby due to the reds injury crisis and Flicker sees the left wing back role as something that could be a more permanent position for the youngster.

Flitcroft will teach him how to play the role and spend time developing in the player rather than searching for another player for that role in the transfer market.

It is clear that the Barnsley boss wants to revert to 5-3-2 next season and wants more than one option in the wing back positions so that we don`t see a repeat of troubles when Scott Goldbourne was injured.

Many will see this development of Noble-Lazarus as the Barnsley boss looking for a backup to Scott Goldbourne.

I see it differently and think that he will emerge as genuine competition for Goldbourne and in the not too distant future find himself ahead of him in the pecking order.

There is no doubt that we have missed Goldbourne down the left since his injury however I feel when Noble-Lazarus gets to grips with the position he will give the team more.

What Noble-Lazarus will give us that Goldbourne can`t is a good delivery when he is in the position to do so and is a better footballer due to him playing in a more attacking role in his short career.

Both are quick and have the energy to get up and down. There isn`t much in them defensively, Goldbourne may have the edge for now but then again at least Noble-Lazarus dare head the ball.

I also feel that despite Goldbourne being the big miss that he has been, he could be a better player if he had more self-belief and was willing to go forward at pace instead of often cutting back and laying the ball back to the centre back.

If fit I believe Goldbourne will start the season as first choice but by the start of next season the shirt will belong to Reuben.

The only thing that could prevent this is relegation and a player exodus and Noble-Lazarus being needed elsewhere on the pitch.

What are your thoughts on this?