Paul Heckingbottom hopes the Barnsley fans welcome Andy Yiadom back tomorrow if he returns to the side to face Middlesbrough at Oakwell.
The Ghana international defender has not featured since the opening week of the current campaign, after which he looked certain to join Premier League Huddersfield Town but the medical revealed a fracture in his spine which ended the deal. The 25-year-old has been receiving treatment for that injury ever since but still nearly moved to another Premier League club in Swansea City, who were minutes too late in securing a loan deal on the final day of the summer transfer window in August.
Yiadom, who can play on either side of defence, has been back in training this week and could be needed for tomorrow's match against Middlesbrough as regular right-back Jason McCarthy is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 3-1 win at Millwall before the international break.
Another option would be to move the versatile Matty Pearson from left-back to right-back and play Zeki Fryers on the left. Yiadom angered some fans by firstly handing in a transfer request and rejecting Barnsley's offer of a new contract, then by appearing on Sky Sports for an unsanctioned interview outlying his desire to leave the club.
Heckingbottom told the Chronicle: "I hope he gets a good reaction from the fans. He did what every other player would do and he hasn't hidden the fact that he wants to play in the Premier League. You have to remember that the club accepted the bid for Yids so they were happy to let him go. But it didn't happen and, after deadline day, he was just happy it was all over and he could focus on getting fit. That turmoil and unnecessary distraction does affect you. You are forever thinking about it.
"In the first two days training he's been excellent, better than you would expect after being out for so long. I know Yids really well and his strength is his character, his desire to do well. He does everything right and listens to everything you tell him."
Heckingbottom added: "We have rushed him through his rehab and he hit all the markers the specialist said he needed to hit. He has jumped from being shut down doing nothing for several weeks to going through a full rehab programme in ten days then being back in training.
"He's champing at the bit to play. I would have no qualms playing him (against Boro) because I know he's good enough and I can't wait to have him back but I have a few concerns that he has only trained a couple of days after being out for a long time."
Another player who could return tomorrow is Lloyd Isgrove. Injuries have meant that the 24-year-old winger has not played since returning permanently this summer after helping the Reds to promotion while on loan from Southampton last year. Heckingbottom said: "Lloyd has been in training for two weeks but we have had to slow him down because of a couple of little niggles. He was going to play in a reserve game even though he wasn't right because he wanted to force his way back into the first team but we had to pull him out. But he's been working hard and getting fitter and stronger every day. He could feature against Middlesbrough and we want him back in our team."
Gary Gardner is back at Oakwell for treatment after a dead leg but is not training and is not in contention for tomorrow. The midfielder, who is on loan from Barnsley's Championship rivals Aston Villa for the season, has not played since his debut at Preston North End on September 9 in which he sustained the injury.
Dimitri Cavare is the only long-term injury as the French right-back is expected to miss at least another month with a hamstring tear.
