Wycombe Wanderers striker Tjay De Barr has spoken on his rise to becoming a first-team regular after nearly two years in the shadows.

The 23-year-old had largely been a fringe player since joining the club from Lincoln Red Imps in 2021, playing just eight times in his inaugural season with the Chairboys.

Countless injury setbacks, a bittersweet yet brief loan spell at Non League Eastleigh, being out of favour despite being fit, the Gibraltarian forward admitted to having ‘doubts’ about his future at Adams Park.

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However, after playing in nine of the club’s previous 11 league matches which has seen him register a goal, an assist, and two starts in his last four games, he hopes to stay in the frame for a little while longer.

Incredibly, he also admitted that after his stellar debut for Wanderers in 2021, where he scored an equaliser against Stevenage in the EFL Cup to rescue a 2-2 draw, before converting the winning spot-kick to set up an away tie at Manchester City, ‘it all went downhill’.

He told the Free Press: “That night against Stevenage was brilliant.

“I remember it so well yet after that, it all went downhill.

“Last season was as if everything was going against me.

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“I went away with the national team and got injured, got back fit to only get injured again, went to Eastleigh on loan to gain first-team experience, and got injured in my fourth game.

“I returned to Wycombe a day later and that kept me out for two-and-a-half months.

“I kept getting injured but the main thing for me was that I kept on working and I’m very stubborn.

“I always knew I was capable of breaking into the team and I thank both managers for the opportunity.

“I have really been patient for 20 months and I’ve got the chance now to make the most of it.

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“I’m happy with how things are going.”

Now a mainstay in the Wanderers team, his enthusiastic performances have been noted by fans and pundits alike.

And incredibly, it was the fixture against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park that catapulted him into the first-team.

De Barr had played the final 20 minutes of the 1-0 loss in Wycombe’s final match of 2022, but the game was overshadowed after he was taken to hospital after suffering chest pains at full-time.

He was discharged several hours later and after a period of rest, he is one of the first names mentioned in Matt Bloomfield's teamsheet.

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He continued: “That night against Plymouth changed everything for me and it had nothing to do with what happened at the end.

“There were several uncertainties about my future, and I feel those 20 minutes kept me.

“It’s weird because I had been trying to chase something that was new to me, coming from a different country to joining a professional team.

“So am I surprised it has taken this long to get back into the team?

“Not really because I’ve had several big injuries that kept me out.

“That’s why I’m so thankful for the club.

"Everyone is saying that I’ve been patient but the club has also been patient with me.

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“I have achieved my aim of playing regularly in the league and scoring in the league, but I feel that I have not done enough.

“I told my mates back home that I feel like a footballer.

“I want to be an important player for the team and club, and I know that I am a lot better than what I am right now.”