‘McFadzean will come back a better player’ - Barker

McFadzean is in contention to return for this Saturday’s League One game with Walsall at the Checkatrade.com Stadium after being dropped for the last two matches.

If the 26-year-old does come in there is likely to be some extra scrutiny on his performance after giving away a decisive penalty against Brentford and then making a costly mistake days later at Bristol City - pressure Barker feels he can handle.

“I think Kyle to be fair to him has got the bit between his teeth,” the Reds manager said. “Sometimes when you feel you’re an automatic choice in the team, and I’m not saying Kyle did, but being left out can be something which helps you out mentally.

“He said to me ‘I think I’m a better player through making a mistake’ and if he learns from that mistake then we’ve got a better player.”

And adding that no player was immune from being dropped Barker said: “I’ve always said right from the start that nobody gets any preferential treatment.

“I left out Claude (Davis) last year when he’d never been left out, and then Kyle, (so) I think it sends out a message to say do your job or somebody else will take your place.”

Speaking exclusively to the Crawley Observer this week, 26-year-old McFadzean said: “Obviously I was disappointed to get dropped and be left out again on Saturday but it was probably the right decision to take me out and give someone else a go. I probably would have done the same thing if I was manager.

“It has refreshed me and given me time to look back at what I’ve done. I’ll learn from my mistakes.”

For the full interview with McFadzean pick up your copy of the Crawley Observer, out now.