Barnsley boss Neill Collins has provided injury updates to The Yorkshire Post on key trio John McAtee, Luca Connell, and Liam Roberts.
Barnsley succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away at fellow League One side Blackpool in the EFL Trophy in midweek, but the result may not be manager Collins’ main concern ahead of the resumption of their league campaign this weekend.
The injury to Luton Town loanee McAtee means the player is set to be assessed ahead of their trip to Reading on Saturday afternoon and he could be set for a spell on the sidelines.
“We will know more today, so we just need to wait and see and take that as it comes,” Collins told The Yorkshire Post.
“We hope that it’s a quick recovery. He will be a miss, but it’s an opportunity for someone else.”
Elsewhere, midfielder Connell may have returned to action recently after a long stint out, but Collins confirmed he too may be joining McAtee.
“Obviously, just coming back from a long time out and playing three or four games has a small thing that we need to be conscious of and we’re hoping he comes through training today.”
But there is positive news on the injury front as far as Barnsley are concerned, with the Tykes boss revealing Middlesbrough loanee Roberts could return before the turn of the year.
“There’s a strong possibility,” he confirmed. “We are certainly edging a lot closer to Liam being back in the squad.”
A mixed update
Potentially losing both McAtee and Connell is a big blow for Collins and Barnsley, particularly given their strong start to the season. If they are to mount a promotion charge, they are no doubt going to need their best players fit and available as regularly as possible.
Should both players be missing for a period of time, the manager, their teammates, and the Barnsley supporters will hope they are only out for as short a time as possible, especially considering they play three of the top 10 in their next four games.
Yet with the unfortunate news of McAtee and Connell, the update on Roberts is certainly one to be hopeful over for Barnsley fans. The Boro shot-stopper has experience in League One and the Championship and it would be a huge boost to get him back.
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