“Hopefully,” the fantastic player for Barnsley is about to end his contract after being “frustrated.”

The French defender is starting to look the part in his quest to establish himself in the heart of the Reds’ backline – and has taken his opportunity with both hands after Kacper Lopata was ruled out for a spell after shoulder surgery following an unfortunate injury in the game at Northampton Town in late September.

A close-season arrival from Nimes, De Gevigney has started the Reds’ past five league games and impressed in virtually all of them.It’s a far cry from his first start on August 19 when he lasted just 37 minutes against Oxford United before being taken off for ‘tactical reasons’ after suffering a tough baptism of fire in a first half which saw him struggle badly and give away a penalty.

On De Gevigney’s outstanding response since returning to the side, Reds chief Collins said: “In some ways, it sometimes takes the pressure off.

“Opportunities can come at any minute in time if you do everything right.

You never know when it might be your turn and then you can get that self-success.”

Motivation is not hard to find across the board at Barnsley, with the Reds – predominantly a young and hungry group – piecing together another impressive season, if the first third of it is anything to go.

On whether what happened at Wembley in late May in a shattering finale in the League One play-off final is providing extra motivation for some, Collins continued: “It’s maybe still too early to say. I think when you get to the turn of the year, that’s when you maybe start thinking about that.

“I think these players are all motivated; that’s what I like about the squad we have got.