Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke addressed why Kelechi Nwakali has yet to make his senior debut for the club during a pre-match news conference ahead of his side’s League One encounter against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
The former Arsenal youngster returned to English football in August, signing a three-year deal with Barnsley.
He was unable to begin training with his new colleagues immediately after the transfer was confirmed since his visa application had still to be processed.
Nwakali has missed the last nine matches for South Yorkshire, although he was called up for games against Sheffield United and Crawley Town but remained on the bench.
During the international break this month, the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner played for Barnsley U21s to improve his match fitness.
Darrell Clarke stated that Nwakali is not at the same fitness level as his teammates, having missed the full six-week pre-season practices.
“Kelechi is about a mile off. To be honest, he needs to follow what I advised him to do. “He needs to get fitter, do more high-speed distance running, nothing I haven’t told him personally,” Clarke told reporters on Thursday.
“He needs to improve in all facets of it, but we’ve got to recognize he’s coming back and adapting to the English game.
So we will keep working with Kelechi.
“Our midfield is a strong area of the pitch and competition for places is good in here and everyone will play their part but they’ve got to be at it every single day.” Nwakali hasn’t played first-team football since May 10, 2024, when he played 45 minutes in his farewell game for GD Chaves.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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