Cut above the rest: Nwakali scores first goal in Barnsley colours but taken off with suspected injury

Kelechi Nwakali was arguably the standout performer as Barnsley were beaten 4-3 by Peterborough United in a Professional Development League fixture in South Yorkshire on Tuesday afternoon. 

The former Arsenal midfielder has yet to make his senior debut for Barnsley since his return to England in the summer transfer window, with first team boss Darrell Clarke suggesting that he's not in tiptop condition having missed the whole of pre-season preparations.

Nwakali has been drafted into the development squad for a couple of games in a bid to step up his match fitness ahead of a potential debut for the first team.

The 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner was a cut above the rest during this afternoon's clash at Oakwell Showcase Pitch witnessed by allnigeriasoccer.com. 

Peterborough United had a dream start to the game, opening the scoring through Joe Davies in the very first minute, but Barnsley responded quickly as Josiah Dyer brought the game back to parity five minutes later.

In the fifteenth minute, Nwakali fired a powerful first-time effort from outside the box that sailed just above the crossbar after winning possession twenty yards from goal.

Three minutes later, he came close again to scoring his first goal in Barnsley colours but his brilliant freekick came off the underside of the bar and bounced away before the ball was cleared by the Posh defence.

The Nigeria international saw another shot from outside the box narrowly miss the target in the 39th minute. 

Those misses would prove costly as Davies bagged his second of the afternoon at minute 42.

Nwakali, who took most of Barnsley's freekicks and corner kicks, was thwarted by Bilokapic right before halftime, as the Peterborough United goalkeeper tipped his curling freekick over the bar. 

After Harley Mills doubled the advantage for the visitors in the 52nd minute, Nwakali won a penalty after he was fouled in the box but Theo Chapman could not convert from the spot in the 61st minute.

The former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles captain pulled one back in the 63rd minute when he collected the ball inside the box and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper.

Two minutes after his first goal for Barnsley, Nwakali made way for Callum West and it is believed that it was an injury-enforced substitution, as the midfielder was seen holding his hamstring as he walked off the pitch.

The 26-year-old is unlikely to make his senior debut for the Reds on Tuesday evening when they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Oakwell in the League One.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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