BARNSLEY are hoping Josh Earl will be able to play in the opening game of the season after missing the last three friendlies due to injury.

The defender has been training at Oakwell as he recovers from a muscle problem but has not been involved in the pre-season games against Rangers, Harrogate Town and York City as a precaution.

If he is not fit to play at Plymouth Argyle in the first game of the League One season on August 2, the Reds could be very light in the left-back area.

Earl is mainly a centre-back but also provides cover on the left.

Nathanael Ogbeta, currently first choice left-back, is ineligible to play against Plymouth as he is on loan from the Devon club, while Georgie Gent is out injured.

Teenager Robson Woodcock has also played there in pre-season.

Meanwhile, captain Luca Connell is in a similar situation to Earl as he recovers from a minor injury.

Both winger Fabio Jalo and left-back Gent are not expected back until roughly September or October at the earliest.

Jalo suffered a serious knee injury against Peterborough in April and has recently returned to very light training at Oakwell.

Gent damaged his Achilles against Lincoln City in March.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jackson Smith missed the end of last season with an injury picked up in a loss at Mansfield Town in March and is yet to play in any of the pre-season friendlies so far this summer.