Barnsley's star strikers Sam Winnall and Marley Watkins are both facing a difficult race to be available for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Sunday.
Key attacker Watkins has a tear in his calf while 18-goal top-scorer Winnall suffered a hip flexor injury in training last Wednesday. The pair missed both games over the Easter weekend – with 20-year-old loanees Ivan Toney and Ashley Fletcher standing in for them – and have not been back in training this week.
Paul Heckingbottom, the Barnsley head coach, says he does not want to rush Winnall and Watkins back to fitness and risk losing them for the play-off chase in League One which he considers more important.
"We will give them every possible chance to be fit," said Heckingbottom.
"They are both still struggling which is not ideal for them or us. We need to get our strongest 11 out there and that might not include an 80 per cent fit Sam Winnall or Marley Watkins. If they are 90 or 95 per cent, that will be different. They are both in a similar situation.
"They are desperate to play. We might be able to get them fit enough for the bench, maybe a start or they might not feature at all. We probably won't know until much nearer to kick-off.
"We also have to consider the bigger league games coming up which might not be as glamourous but they are massive for us because we have a real chance to get promoted. Hopefully Sam and Marley will play a big part in our season and get us to Wembley again for the play-off final."
