Walsall defender Connor Barrett on early Leicester City and Burnley setbacks and defining career decision

His experience at Burnley had not gone to plan. Aside from a lack of minutes, the challenges of moving away from home amid the Covid-19 pandemic while simultaneously attempting to prove his worth in an ultra competitive environment had taken its toll. 

In the space of 12 months, Barrett had been released from his hometown club Leicester City after seven years, and found himself without a club again following his solitary season with Burnley. 

He questioned whether his love for the game was fading until his decision to drop into non-league at Kettering Town helped reignite his passion and rebuild his career.

"That was the best move I've made so far because it's quite easy to get stuck in the under-21s system and not playing men's football," he explains.

"I was at a time where I'd sort of lost that enjoyment in football and I didn't want to get stuck in the system. 

"My time at Burnley didn't necessarily go how I would've liked. It was Covid season so it was just stop-start and it was the first time I'd moved away from home. 

"I wasn't able to come home as much because of lockdown so it was a tough year for me.

"When I talked to close family about the move, they were maybe surprised because I was going into part-time football. 

"But in my head I knew it was the right move, to play men's football and get that fire in my belly again."  

His season with Kettering ultimately paved the way for two successful seasons at AFC Fylde which eventually propelled him into the Football League with Walsall last summer. 

Another important factor in his development was his permanent switch to right wing-back. Barrett had started out as a striker and played frequently at centre-back in the Leicester academy but it was only later down the line that he found his true calling.

"It was a dream of mine to play for my hometown club," he recalls. "I started out as a striker believe it or not and gradually worked my way back. 

"Then I was playing centre-back when I came to leave Leicester but I didn't really enjoy it there. 

"So when I came into the right wing-back position, I found I had more chances to show my attacking qualities which was a perfect fit for me.

"You look at the likes of Jamie Vardy but my role model was Danny Simpson. We used to get tickets to each game and when you watch him week in, week out, you just see how consistent he is." 

And despite his early setbacks, Barrett feels those experiences have made him stronger.

"I dealt with it quite well. I think my mum was a bit worried but I looked it as one person's professional opinion could be different to another. 

"It's important to go through those experiences as a young lad because if you get to 22 or 23 and you get released then it's a completely different ball game."