Barnsley to reel their Tonge in?

The saying is usually “the cat got your tongue” but it could well be the Tykes who nip in ahead in  this particular instance as word is circulating around Oakwell that Barnsley are closing in on a loan deal for Stoke City’s midfielder Michael Tonge.

Manager Keith Hill has been in the super-market for a central-midfielder after Danny Drinkwater moved to Leicester City last week, but after having no luck in searching the shelves for one, sadly they were out of stock, he has had to go to Stoke for the loan option.

The position was also stripped further after captain Jacob Butterfield was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Tonge is seen as the perfect option to fill-in the troublesome area for the Yorkshire club.

28 year old Tonge has found first-team opportunities as seldom as a tabloid avoids controversy in his three year spell at Stoke having only made six appearances whilst totally falling out of Tony Pulis’ plans this season by not making a single appearance, and it is thought that Barnsley, in a fourth loan spell following time with Preston and Derby, could be the best solution for Tonge as he gets frustrated warming the bench at the Britannia.

Tonge built a high reputation in the lower leagues during his 7 years with Sheffield United but after leaving the blades, his cut has fallen rather blunt. He was known as a combative box-to-box midfielder before he entered the forgotten footballing land in the Potteries and a move to Barnsley could be the best route to rejuvenation as he looks to re-build his standing in the game, like a child with a Lego set.

To further name-check Sheffield United, yes you can’t buy this publicity, the central-midfield wanting Barnsley have also been linked with the Blades’ defensive stalwart Nick Montgomery, but it is believed Barnsley will have to go armed with a reinforced rope to tear the vice-captain away from Bramall lane, having been there for 12 years and consistently surviving the flirtatious advances of Leeds United.

While Monty remains an unlikely whisper, it is looking like Stoke may finally stick their Tonge out and Barnsley may patch up their central-midfield crisis by taking the Michael. Tonge that is, Michael Tonge.

@AdamGray1250