Zeki Fryers and Lloyd Isgrove are available for selection for tomorrow’s game against Southend United while there is a chance that Cauley Woodrow could join them in the 18-man squad.
Left-back Fryers and winger Isgrove both played more than an hour for Barnsley under 23s in their match against Birmingham City on Friday. Isgrove has played just one minute of league football this season due to injury while Fryers has been out since hurting his ankle in July.
Fryers, 26, and Isgrove, 25, have started 43 and 47 league matches respectively in injury-plagued careers. Assistant coach Andreas Winkler said: “They are both really in contention and it’s up to the gaffer. To have Lloyd and Zeki back is a big boost for us because they have quality. Everybody knows they have to show their best performance in training to stay in the team.”
Striker Woodrow made his league debut for Southend during a loan from Fulham in the 2013/14 season. He scored twice in 20 League Two matches and added a brace in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. He is yet to play for Barnsley after signing on loan from Fulham in August with a permanent deal agreed for January. He has been back in training for two weeks.
Winkler said: “He is in contention to play but you can see in training he is not 100 per cent. But that is normal after being out for such a long time. We can put him on the bench if he is right mentally.”
The Reds coaching staff believe the three cup games which follow tomorrow’s home league clash with Southend United could be perfect for giving players minutes in competitive games on their return from injury. Winkler said: “It’s perfect timing. They need some matches and we will find the best squad for those situations.”
Central midfielder Kenny Dougall is expected to miss the next eight weeks with an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Jack Walton missed Saturday’s game and was replaced on the bench by 17-year-old Henry Kendrick. Striker Victor Adeboyejo has been injured for the last two matches.
