The openside flanker specialist missed the opening two matches of the season after summer shoulder surgery.
He admits it has been a frustrating wait but will take his bow for the Scarlets in the first derby of the season at Rodney Parade.
“It’s been a little frustrating to join a club and then be off with injury but the surgery had to happen and I’m glad to get the go-ahead now,” said Barclay.
“I’m just itching to get out there. In some ways it’s been positive that I’ve had time to bed in slowly and not get rushed in — but on the other hand I just want to get out there and play and not just be stuck in the gym and rehab.”
The Scarlets have spent the last two seasons without a specialist openside, with three blindside flankers by trade making up their first choice back-row.
He will add a new dynamic to the tried and tested combination of Aaron Shingler, Rob McCusker and Josh Turnbull and is relishing the competition.
“We’ve got good competition in the back row,” said Barclay.
“I know how good these players are from playing against them and I think it’s positive that we have a good blend of different types of players there.”
And Barclay has big hopes for the Scarlets this season following a mixed start to the season with a hammering at the hands of Leinster and a comfortable win over Treviso.
“We have a young group of players, and some may have questioned what the Scarlets will do this season, but from what I have seen they are a very determined and ambitious group,” added Barclay.
“They know their responsibility to this club and all its traditions and you can see how much it means from the way they turned things round after losing out to Leinster.
“It was good to see how they transferred what we had talked about from training onto the field against Treviso, who are a tough, gritty side with plenty of experience and some big scalps in the Pro12.”
