Despite only barely making it onto the team sheet for Barnsley’s New Year’s Day clash against Birmingham City, Brek Shea managed to put in a “fantastic”
first performance for his new temporary employer, lasting 75 minutes in a 1-1 draw. The USA international joined the bottom-of-the-table second division club on a 28-day loan from Premier League club
Stoke City, which was completed only minutes before kickoff on Wednesday.

"Brek Shea came into the team and had a fantastic 70 minutes or so," Barnsley coach Danny
Wilson after the game. "He'll be a big threat for us going forward. . . We only got his name on the team sheet at two minutes to two!" Despite the positive result, Barnsley
remains at the bottom of the Championship table, five points from safety. The club is winless in its last six matches.