NEWS NOW: Barnsley standout refused Championship transfer despite ties to Sunderland and Ipswich Town, calling it “amazing”

Neill Collins, the manager of Barnsley, has stated that loan star John McAtee turned down the opportunity to advance to the Championship during the January transfer window.

Before their debut League One season under new manager Collins, Barnsley decided to bring forward McAtee on loan last summer. The loanee from Luton Town has been a huge success at Oakwell, and last month his play was noted.

With nine goals and three assists in 27 games since his comeback, McAtee has grown in popularity among the Tykes. It was reported in January that Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Cardiff City—the Championship quartet—were eager to offer him a move to the second division.

The Yorkshire Post reported that Collins showered the 24-year-old with accolades while acknowledging that he declined an opportunity to go to a higher division. He declared:

“Having a player with the mentality that Macca has is incredible. In January, there was interest, and we were clearly extremely happy, even though Luton was really satisfied with where Macca was. He declined the chance to attend the Championship, which, in my opinion, speaks volumes about how dedicated he is to being here and how much he is enjoying himself.

“He has done a great job and works incredibly well, and this season there is still a lot of room for him to grow [more].”

Getting the Tykes going

When they get the chance, players frequently move up a league. The parent clubs are frequently eager to see their loanees tested at a higher level when it comes to an impressive loan player. On the other hand, Barnsley benefit from McAtee and Luton Town’s freshening position.

This season, McAtee has been a key player whether he is playing at the top with Devante Cole or just behind the no. 9. The forward has demonstrated that he can handle third-tier football after making an impression in the National League and League Two in the past, so another move up could not be too far off.

The player from Barnsley will be trying to snap a six-game league goalless streak. After assisting Collins and company reach fifth place in the standings, he will be eager to lead them in their pursuit of a top six finish.