Why the leadership of Sam Cosgrove will be important on two levels for Barnsley FC - and new boss Darrell Clarke - in League One in 2024-25

Last season was one in which the Reds fell short. From a personal perspective, it also never really got going until towards the end for the East Yorkshireman, as he is the first to acknowledge.

There were mitigating factors in fairness, such as his arrival right at the end of the 2023 summer window on deadline day following a pre-season that was disrupted at former club Birmingham City.

In the words of former head coach Neill Collins, Cosgrove was never likely to come out 'all-singing and all-dancing' and flying and it’s fair to say that didn’t.

The form of Devante Cole in the first half of the season - well, up until February in truth - was another major consideration.

As Cole’s goals dried up, Cosgrove was handed some late-season responsibility.

His performance in the two play-off games with Bolton Wanderers was one of the few encouraging things of note in a final third to a season which will not live long in the memory at Oakwell.

Cole has now left for pastures new alongside other senior figures in captain Jordan Williams, Herbie Kane and Nicky Cadden, not to mention influential loanees Liam Roberts and John McAtee.

At 27, Cosgrove will be assigned with stepping up and he is ready for it, in truth.

It was perhaps no coincidence that in the aftermath of the Reds’ semi-final elimination at Bolton, he was the one who faced the music, while Wanderers celebrated.

Barnsley will need both leadership and goals from him next term. New head coach Darrell Clarke will certainly know that too.

On his eagerness to take on more responsibility, Cosgrove said: “Absolutely. I think I was one of the senior figures behind the scenes especially.

"Next season, I can take on a bit more of one of those senior roles and hopefully that game time increases for myself and I can make a bit more of a mark on this football club and team than I did.

"I think everyone needs a bit of time to go away and dissect the season. But absolutely, we will be ready to go again.”

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In his opening address as head coach, Clarke spoke about the importance of players possessing the right mentality and he can rest assured that Cosgrove - who knows what it takes to be promoted from the third tier - will be one he can count on in that regard.

Cosgrove went up with Plymouth in 2022-23 and another former Argyle player and one whom Barnsley know well in former captain Conor Hourihane also has the requisite mindset, having also been previously promoted from League One with the Reds and Derby County.

Barnsley remain keen on bringing Hourihane back to Oakwell, in a player-coach role, from Derby. But there is competition, most significantly from ambitious League One newcomers Wrexham in the services of the 33-year-old.

In terms of Cosgrove, they will be getting a different on-pitch version to the one who arrived at the start of September when he was playing catch-up.

His fitness levels will be instantly strong to back up the mindset of a player, who had to draw upon his reservoirs of character after being shown the door by Wigan at the start of his twenties.

"I had a tough pre-season, personally,” Cosgrove continued.

"The fixture list is relentless and it took me a while to get up to speed. Once I found my feet, the boys were good and the manager was cracking with me and I got on really well with him personally.

"Hopefully, I can get a good pre-season under my belt and the team can come back flying next year.”

The targetman has a head for numbers and is an intelligent lad - he is doing a part-time degree in accounting finance - and knows full well that his personal statistics in 2023-24 could have been better.

The way he ended last season hinted that it will next time. His haul of three goals in two matches equalled his tally in the regular season.

A final flourish of sorts understandably heartened Cosgrove, yet he provides a caveat.

He added: “As a centre-forward, you are judged on goals and it hasn’t quite fallen for me this year for whatever reason.

“But it still feels as if I have put in some good solid performances, but the goals haven’t fallen.

"So from a personal point of view, It was good to get a couple on the scoresheet in the two legs.

"But listen, I would have taken a worse season personally and got promoted. That was our main target.

"We go away and work hard (in pre season) and come back next season."

Barnsley need Cosgrove to come into his own and take the lead in 24-25 and it’s nothing to do with pre-season running sessions either.