Early Exit For Jamal?

Jamaican Jamal Campbell-Ryce seems to be out of favour at Oakwell with new boss Mark Robins.

The tricky winger has been back in contention for a place in the squad after recovering from the eye injury that kept him out for around a month, but has found his first team opportunities limited to say the least.

Barnsley boss Mark Robins denied reports of a rift between himself and Campbell-Ryce after the winger was left out of the squad to face Doncaster last Saturday and left the ground before kick off. Robins told the club's official website that: 'I went with a squad for a tactical reason. Jamal just didn't feature in it this weekend.'

Campbell-Ryce was rumoured to have been questioning Robins' decision to leave him out of the side but Robins philosophy dictated that while the current starting eleven were performing well, they would keep their places and it was up to those players on the fringe of the squad to prove to him how much they wanted the shirt.

Campbell-Ryce was selected to start against Bristol City this afternoon, but an ineffective if energetic first half performance from the winger seems to have sealed his fate at the club.

A far cry from the player that used to get the crowd on the edge of their seats, Jamal looked disinterested and too relaxed on the ball, often misplacing the simplest of passes and his look towards the bench when he was replaced ten minutes into the second half was one that said more than words.

His replacement, Anderson Da Silva's performance will have only hindered Campbell-Ryce's chances of more first team action, with the Brazillian looking infinitely more able on the ball.

The dramatic turnaround comes almost exactly a year after the winger signed a new contract at Oakwell keeping him at the club until summer 2011. However, following the exit of Simon Davey, the man who brought him to the club and if rumours are to be believed, he won't feature much in Robins' plans this season and could be on his way out of the Oakwell door in January.

It is a shame as he has the fans adoration for some scintillating performances, with the ability to excite the crowd whenever he picks up the ball.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.