LUKE Thomas is set to travel with Barnsley to his former club Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
The midfielder, who will be 24 on Sunday, has been out for more than four months with a broken leg.
Head coach Michael Duff said: “He’s been out a long time so we’re not expecting him to hit the ground running. We will take him but I don’t know if he will play or not yet.”
Thomas – who started his career at Cheltenham – began the season as a wide forward in a 3-4-3 but, since his injury, the Reds have changed to 3-5-2.
Duff said: “He can play as a left eight (in the central midfield three), up top if needed, left wing-back at a push and we could change to 3-4-3. He gives you versatility because he’s a good footballer and not one-dimensional.”
Defender Robbie Cundy and midfielder Josh Benson have both been out since mid-January – Cundy with a knee problem and Benson a hamstring injury.
Duff said that Benson was further ahead in his recovery but could not provide a timeframe.
Goalkeeper Brad Collins is expected to miss four to six weeks with a quad injury, which he had been carrying before aggravating at Portsmouth last week.
