NICKY Cadden ‘can’t seem to shake off’ his calf problem while Josh Benson is set to miss the next week.

Left wing-back Cadden has struggled with calf issues all season but head coach Michael Duff had thought he would be fit to face Portsmouth on Saturday.

Duff said: “It’s not going as well as I would have liked.

“He can’t seem to shake off that little niggle. It’s very stop-start.

“He’s not breaking down but keeps feeling a niggle. Every time we try to speed him up and condition him, he’s not quite right. It looks like another couple of weeks.”

Josh Benson has limped off in the first half of Barnsley’s last two league matches with a hamstring issue. Duff said: “He will be probably another week. If we play him, we are potentially doing the same as last week. We don’t want it to be long-term.

“He might come on then off again. There is not a lot on the scans but the weekend might be too soon.”

Herbie Kane was injured in pre-season but has made brief cameos in the last two games. Duff said: “The question is do we think he can get a 60 or 70 minutes in? Or is it better to bring him off the bench?

In Text Promo Image

“He’s now up and running and fit. That’s a positive because we all believe he’s a good player.”