Duff not talking about Jalo league appearances yet
MICHAEL Duff doesn’t ‘want to entertain the conversation’ about putting 16-year-old Fabio Jalo in his Barnsley side in League One yet.
The striker was named Academy Player of the Year last season after top-scoring for the under 18s as a schoolboy, and featuring for the under 23s.
Originally from Portugal, he has been on training camps with England youth teams.
Jalo – who started in a friendly at Harrogate on Wednesday – had already committed to a two-year academy scholarship but has now signed a professional contract. The club have not announced the length of the deal.
Asked if Jalo could play in the league soon, head coach Duff told the Chronicle: “I don’t even want to entertain that conversation yet. He’s signed a pro contract and played a friendly.
“But there’s a big difference between playing in pre-season and playing in a league game. I don’t want to put any expectations on him. We like him, he’s a really good finisher, he has absolutely no fear. We’ll see how he develops.”
Eight other players have been given new deals with the under 23s.
Lithuanian midfielder Tomas Kalinauskas, who was released in May, has been given a new deal while striker Jack Butterfill, 18, has been signed up after leaving Leicester City.
Centre-backs Amir Ariely and Will Lancaster, who were already in the under 23s squad last season, have signed fresh deals while Danny Benson, also a centre-back, goalkeeper Kieren Flavell and midfielders Keegan Hartley and Harrison Nejman have stepped up from the under 18s.