Dan Barlaser planning another year at Rotherham United

PLAYMAKER Dan Barlaser has no intention of seeking a move away from AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Dan, Jade and Emre on holiday in Crete last monthDan, Jade and Emre on holiday in Crete last month
Dan, Jade and Emre on holiday in Crete last month

The midfielder has admirers elsewhere after playing a starring role in Rotherham United’s League One promotion and Papa John’s Trophy double.

But the 25-year-old wants to test himself with the Millers in the Championship before considering where his career might take him.

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“I’ve got a year left on my contract and I’m happy here,” he said. “I’ll try my hardest next season and see where we go from there.”

Barlaser went up from the third tier with Rotherham during a loan spell from Newcastle United in 2019/20 before agreeing a permanent stay in South Yorkshire and signing a three-year deal at the end of that campaign.

His form in this term’s promotion, when he scored nine goals and made eight assists, earned him a place in the EFL League One Team of the Year along with teammates Michael Smith and Michael Ihiekwe.

“At the start of the season people looked at all the big clubs with bigger budgets and bigger fan bases than us and probably wrote us off but we knew we could go up,” he said.

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“Two trophies in a season is unbelievable. I’m proud of all the lads. There have been a few sore heads since the last day at Gillingham!”

Rotherham have responded to a relegation with an instant promotion for the third successive time under manager Paul Warne.

“The key to our success has been the determination of everybody,” said Barlaser, who attracted interest from abroad in the January transfer window. “We were all desperate to get back up into the Championship.

Fitness has been a massive thing for us. We get put through it in pre-season and you can see all through the season how much that helps us.”

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Only one thing is missing for a player who won silverware, became a dad for the first time and made the select divisional 11 in his best-ever year in football.

“I’m very pleased about being in the Team of the Season,” he said. “Rotherham were the only side to have three lads in there, which shows how well we’ve performed.

“My plaque still hasn’t come yet, mind!”

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DAN Barlaser has taken a job working nights now that Rotherham United’s League One campaign is over.

The new dad got plenty of sleep as the Millers closed in on promotion to the Championship thanks to the sterling work of partner Jade.

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However, now that a place in the second tier has been secured, the 25-year-old has been taking his turn waking up in the early hours to tend to the couple’s first child, Emre, who was born in early March.

“It’s only fair,” said the Geordie. “Jade did it all through the last couple of months of the season. I’m so proud of her. She’s done so well, bless her.

“She’s on her own with me and Emre in Sheffield while her family are in Newcastle so it’s not easy for her.”

The close season has allowed the Dan clan to spend more time on Tyneside where Barlaser’s mum, Alison — a well-known figure in Millers circles on Twitter — has been delighted to lend a helping hand.

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“She’s very proud,” the midfielder said. “‘Super-nanny’ we call her. I’ve got two older  sisters and she’s got four grandkids now and another on the way.”

Emre has already made his Millers debut, attending the 1-0 defeat against Charlton Athletic at AESSEAL New York Stadium and then the 2-1 home triumph over Oxford United.

“His record’s not bad,” Barlaser smiled. “50:50: lost one, won one. Hopefully we can take him abroad this summer, if his passport comes. If not, we’ll go somewhere in England.”

With a Championship challenge to look forward to, Papa John’s Trophy silverware in the bag and Emre thriving, life is good in the Barlaser household ... except for Duke the Chihuahua.

“The dog is having a tough time,” Dan the dad said. “He is not happy at being woken up during the night.”