Selection issues aplenty for Chris Powell

When the teamsheets were released into the sparse Oakwell press box prior to kick-off, discussion centred on the strength of Huddersfield Town's starting lineup.

Manager Powell had made just two changes in total from the XI which took to the field in the midweek face-off with Deportivo de La Coruna and, in bringing back Joel Lynch and Ishmael Miller, he had formed a side which could conceivably take on Hull City in just under a week's time.

But he could be forgiven for leaving Oakwell with a sense of uncertainty given the turgid nature of his side's second-half performance, both in terms of who will start against the Tigers and the shape his side are in.

Powell has - like the fans - refused to let the 'it's only pre-season' line be peddled out in defence of some meagre displays and this disappointing end to their preparations for the new season appears to have created more questions than answers.

Will Martin Cranie usurp Tommy Smith in the race for the right-back spot? Has Kyle Dempsey done enough to warrant a start? And who will play up front? The next week will give the manager a lot to ponder.

Barnsley (2) v Huddersfield Town (1) pre season friendly - Joe Lolley

Right-wing problems an added cause for concern

Given he finished 2014/15 as the players' player of the year, Sean Scannell's stock is at an all-time high in his Huddersfield Town career.

His pace, invention and purpose on the right flank were integral in much of Town's attacking success last season, but supporters will rightly worry what has happened to those traits in recent times.

He started off like he had never been away at Guiseley, terrorising young Lions left-back Joel Thompson and also impressed in the 2-0 win over Leyton Orient in Marbella, but his return to England has coincided with a personal malaise.

His off-colour first-half performance at Barnsley was in keeping with how he performed at Grimsby Town, Rochdale and against Deportivo.

But on the day that a potential rival for the position in Adam Hammill was reportedly closing in on a move to Preston North End, neither Scannell nor second-half replacement Joe Lolley could adequately seize their chance.

Barnsley (2) v Huddersfield Town (1) pre season friendly - Ishmael Miller.

Ishmael Miller needs to be eased back into action

Powell will have been delighted at being able to field Miller from the outset, after his injury woes during pre-season and, with James Vaughan on the bench, Town had their full roster of forwards available.

But it is difficult to read too much into how he fared at Oakwell having just returned from an injury lay-off and this was an exercise in building him up by getting much-needed minutes into his legs.

There were signs of promise, the way he bulldozed central defender Marc Roberts out of possession in the first-half, a clever piece of play to see him past fellow stopper Alfie Mawson and an intricate piece of play with Kyle Dempsey which saw his goalbound effort charged down.

But, like Town as a collective, he struggled to impose himself after the break and it was no great surprise to see him taken off to offer Vaughan a chance to build up his own fitness.

Miller offered hints that he is in the mood to be the physical foil to Nahki Wells in attack, but he will have to improve his condition first.

Barnsley (2) v Huddersfield Town (1) pre season friendly - Nahki Wells.

Nahki Wells' form is one massive plus to take from pre-season

On the subject of Wells, the Bermudian is arguably the one big and consistent plus to emerge from the six games Town have participated in over the summer months.

Town's main man in attack looks sharp and there is a clear physical difference between the player that finished 2014/15 as top scorer and the one which has concluded the preparations for the new campaign with the same title.

Wells has put in the hard yards over the summer and looks to have a stockier frame, illustrated by the way he brushed off defenders in keeping possession and in darting past challenges en route to first a chance and then a goal.

The fortunes of this side will, at least things stand, hinge heavily on how Wells fares and right now he looks capable of hitting the ground running, an assertion that cannot be levelled at each member of this Town squad.

He finished two clear of Lolley with four pre-season goals to his name and will be one of the first names on the teamsheet to face Hull next weekend.

Barnsley v Huddersfield Town pre season friendly - Kyle Dempsey.

Memories of Kyle Dempsey in this game should be fond ones

Town's midfield duo or trio certainly won't be lacking in tenacity this season.

Here, Dean Whitehead was heard berating Tommy Smith for failing to release the ball early enough, then Jacob Butterfield sent a crunching tackle in on the excellent Arsenal loan whizkid Daniel Crowley after initially losing possession and Kyle Dempsey buzzed around the sodden Oakwell turf with intent.

He was deployed on the left-hand side of midfield but this 4-4-2, like any Town formation under Powell, had a lop-sided feel to it and as such, he was invited to skip inside and create from central positions.

His reverse pass to Wells for the opening goal was defence-splitting in its accuracy and audacious in its delivery but it would be just the first of two notable contributions to the eventual outcome.

But it was for all the wrong reasons as he was directly involved in the equaliser for the hosts, with his backpass towards Alex Smithies too weak and clinically dealt with by Sam Winnall.

To compound his misery, the summer signing from Carlisle United was brought out of the firing line by being hauled off at the break, but an error which could have happened to anyone should not be allowed to mar an otherwise promising cameo.