Out-of-contract Barnsley FC stars remain fully committed to League One promotion bid insists Reds chief Neill Collins

Over recent seasons, a number of leading Reds stars have elected to run their contracts down before deciding upon their futures and this year is no different.

Captain Jordan Williams, midfielder Herbie Kane and top-scorer Devante Cole are all out of contract at the end of the season and are keeping their options open.

Alongside the trio, several key loanees are coming towards the end of their season-long loans at Oakwell.

But Collins has stressed that their commitment levels cannot be called into question.

He said: “I don’t think that. I think it could be a factor when you have got seven or eight guys (in the same boat), but I don’t think that’s been a factor at all.

"Our loan players have been 100 per cent committed and the likes of Liam Roberts, Jamie McCart and John McAtee have been fantastic and as for our out-of-contracted players, they have been mainstays in the team and you saw the other night when Herbie Kane and Devante came on and showed a great attitude.

"The players have shown they are really committed to getting this team out of this division and it says a lot about them when they are in a position where they are running out of contract.

"It’s beneficial for us as a club and them as individuals to do what is best for the team( to hopefully go up). Then we all benefit.”

Sign up to our new Sports Editor’s TeamTalk newsletter available this week

The fifth-placed Reds, with just two wins in eight games, will need just a point from their last three matches to guarantee a top-six spot if they beat Reading at Oakwell on Saturday and Lincoln lose at home to Wigan.

Barnsley visit Portsmouth and Blackpool next week.