FABIO Jalo is set to miss most of the rest of the season but Herbie Kane and Luca Connell could start at the weekend while Jamie McCart and Donovan Pines are getting closer to contention.
Striker Jalo, 18, is out with a knee injury picked up with the under 21s against Sheffield Wednesday last week.
The Portugal youth international has made 12 first team appearances for the Reds this season and recently signed a new long-term deal.
He is due to miss four to six weeks.
Midfielder Kane sat out Saturday’s loss to Exeter with a hamstring twinge.
Collins said he was ‘progressing really well’ and was ‘close’ to a return at Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.
Kane has nine yellow cards this season so another one will bring him a two-match suspension.
Connell played the last 20 minutes on Saturday after illness and could be in line to start at his former club.
Defender Jamie McCart has missed the last four games with a calf injury.
Collins said: “Bolton will be a little soon but he’s very close in respect to training.
“He could be involved against Leyton Orient (February 10).”
Midfielder Josh Benson has been out for almost three months.
“Josh is progressing but not close to being back training. He’s out running which is nice to see.”
This has been Donovan Pines’ first full week in training after signing earlier in the month then getting a visa.
The US international centre-back has not played for five months since October 1.
He is expected to play for the under 21s at home to Hull City on Tuesday, but Collins suggested he may need one more game at that level before debuting for the first team.
Collins said: “Donovan is doing well.
“We did 11v11 in training.
“We need to expose him to that.
“He’s had a good week in training.
“He will play on Tuesday for the reserves.
“We will see where we are after that.
“I don’t think he will play 90 minutes. We want him to be fit but don’t want to push him and injure him.
“We will look at another game prior to including him.”
The under 21s game against Hull is due to be played at 1pm on the Oakwell training pitches. The under 18s were beaten 3-0 at Hull on Saturday.
