BARNETT URGED TO JOIN THE MAGPIES BY KEWELL
JORDAN Barnett said former Notts County boss Harry Kewell told him the Magpies were “a great club” ahead of his move to Meadow Lane.
Barnett wrapped up a move to Neal Ardley’s side on Monday, with the left-back penning a short-term deal until the end of the season after he was allowed to leave Oldham Athletic.
And the defender revealed how Kewell, who is currently in charge of Oldham, had nothing but praise for the Magpies despite him being sacked by the club only 10 weeks after his appointment in November 2018.
“It was was only last week and he knew that Notts County was interested in me,” he said.
“He just told me that it would be a great way to improve and get a lot of game time. So I took his word for it and came to the club.
“It was all good words, to be fair.
“He said it’s a great club, a big club and they belong in the Football League.
“It’s a bit like Oldham, they belong higher in the Football League, so it was a great club for you to impress at.”
Barnett made 24 appearances for Oldham in League Two this season and could be handed his debut in the FA Trophy clash against Havant & Waterlooville this weekend.
Magpies boss Ardley was thrilled to land the defender, who will now challenge Dion Kelly-evans for the left-back position, with Calvin Miller expected to be deployed in an attacking role.
Barnett says his intention is to try to help lead the Magpies back to the Football League with the club currently in sixth position, 13 points behind leaders Torquay United with four games in hand.
“I really want to do well here and get this club back into the EFL,” he said.
“I’d never played men’s football before, so it was a great experience to play in the EFL this season.
“I’ve got quite a lot of pace and power – I’m a fit lad as well who likes to go up and down. I’m a good setpiece taker, too, and get quite a lot of assists.
“But the step-up was tough – it’s a lot more rough and aggressive than Under-23s football – but I got used to it quite quickly and the more games I played, the easier it got for me.”