Callum Brittain seeking special milestone at Barnsley FC

The tantalising prospect of the Reds extending their remarkable 2020-21 season by way of participation in the end-of-season Championship play-offs is now being increasingly talked about as a realistic opportunity rather than a pipe dream - and it has rich potential in several regards.

Including for the Brittain household, with the possibility for some supporters to be able to return to matches - all being well - by mid-May onwards having been duly noted after Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently outlined his road map for easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions with fans set to return to sporting events from Monday, May 17.

As much as Barnsley supporters may try, it is increasingly hard to ignore the prospect of the club competing in the play-offs, given the club's brilliant sequence of form since the end of January, which has seen them rise to fifth place in the table following a 12-match unbeaten run which has featured a stellar run of nine wins in their past ten matches.

For Brittain, who moved to the club from MK Dons in October and enjoyed a start to his career at Oakwell which can only be described as a dream, thoughts of his family and friends watching him for the first time in the flesh has crossed his mind.

He said: "That would be amazing really and the best outcome. I have not played in front of the Barnsley fans yet and that would be unreal. To get my dad and family there would be the best outcome.

"They (family members) won’t admit it, but they are getting into it. I think everyone around the club is getting into it and starting to believe. It is a really good environment to be in and hopefully we can keep going for the rest of the season."

In the here and now, Brittain - outstanding since joining the club in a right wing-back role 0 is very much focused on the business in hand and not getting carried away. Grounded head coach Valerien Ismael would not let him or his team-mates, perish the thought.

Bouquets have been rightfully bestowed upon Barnsley following their majestic recent run, with their latest victory coming in a 3-1 success at bottom-placed Wycombe on Wednesday evening.

Their relentless energy, work ethic, fitness and quality has been referenced, but their togetherness is every bit as important according to Brittain.

A group of young footballers are having the time of their lives and the 23-year-old is the first to admit that he has never known any feeling like it so far in his career.

He said: “No, not at all. I could not be happier with my football at the moment or the team’s football.

“The environment is amazing in the changing room and it is a really good vibe and environment and I could not ask to be in a better place.

“With results like Bournemouth, if there is no togetherness in the squad, we do not turn that game around and I don’t know about the other players, but I definitely had a feeling ten minutes into the second half when Bournemouth were struggling to get out of the press that I had a real belief."