BARNSLEY had ten first team players missing from training on Thursday due to Covid-19 and injuries ahead of the FA Cup match with Barrow on Saturday.
Four players have tested positive for Covid throughout the week, with at least three certain to miss the cup tie.
Michal Helik, Cauley Woodrow, Obbi Oulare and Aapo Halme are injured while at least two others have what head coach Poya Asbaghi hopes are short-term injuries.
While clubs can cancel league games if they have fewer than 14 first team players, the FA has reportedly told clubs they must play cup ties this weekend – using youth team players if necessary.
Several under 23s have been training with the first team this week.
Head coach Poya Asbaghi told the Chronicle: “It’s about seeing which players are the freshest. The squad will be decided by who can arrive on Saturday to play. It’s one thing when it’s a Premier League club or the top teams in the Championship but maybe we are more vulnerable than any team in the Championship. We need all of our players.”
Woodrow, the captain and top-scorer, limped off with a knee injury four weeks ago during the loss at Preston. He has missed the last two games.
Helik came off on Wednesday of last week during the defeat at Blackburn Rovers with a thigh problem.
Asked when they could return, Asbaghi said: “We’ll see.
“It’s really difficult to know about Cauley.
“Mich may be back soon but he is not training with us yet.
“The league games next week could also be too early for them.”
