Usually these types of story concern long lost ex players but there has been no sight nor sound of Barnard in well over a month.
Last season Lee Barnard was a pivotal part of the Saints side that won promotion, starting 26 games coming on as sub in 12 and scoring 13 league goals, in terms of goals per minutes on pitch Barnard was our best striker and had he taken (and of course scored) the penalties he would have been our top scorer, when he sustained a serious injury with five games left there were those that wondered whether this might cost us promotion.
He was back in pre season though but since then little has been seen or heard of him as to whether he is fit or if there is some other problem, rumours of a loan deal to Charlton surfaced that intimated that he is fit but there might be some sort of problem in other areas.
If Lee Barnard has played his last game for Saints it will be sad, he was a wholehearted player who gave his all but was often under appreciated as his strike partner took the glory, but for creating goals and scoring from open play there was no one better at the club and his tireless running often took the pressure off the team when clearing from defence and in turn created space for others.
There are some who say he isnt good enough for the Championship, that may be the case, but there were also those that said the same about Rickie Lambert and he has proved his doubters wrong, like SRL, Lee Barnard does surely deserve the chance to show if he has what it takes.
Of course the rumours might be wrong and there might not be a problem, but if thats the case it highlights the need for the club to be transparent in communication and nip those rumours in the bud before they get out of hand and damaging.