Conor Hourihane admits he doesn’t have the depth in certain areas of his Barnsley squad to rotate as much as he would like for a third game in six days at Peterborough United on Tuesday.
The Reds played against Fleetwood on Wednesday night in the EFL Cup, having made six changes, then played for more than 45 minutes with ten men in a 1-1 draw with Bolton on Saturday.
They are looking to add to their squad in the final two weeks of the transfer window.
Hourihane said: “I would like to rotate more but the depth is probably just not there at the minute. I am very pleased with the people in the building. But there is no getting away that we need a little bit of depth.
“We’ve got two weeks so it will have to be pretty soon. We’re counting down and so is every club.”
Asked if there had been any approaches for any of Barnsley’s star men, he said: “Nothing whatsoever. No bids, nothing to report. Hopefully that is the case for the next couple of weeks."
Mael de Gevigney could potentially return from injury at Peterborough.
“It’s 50/50. He has a little bit of fitness test today. He’s making big strides and we’ll see if he comes through that.”
Barnsley have scored in all of Hourihane’s first 14 games in charge which is a club record. He told the Chronicle: “When I first got the job I wanted to play an attacking style which scores goals, with wingers and good forwards. The way we play, I always feel we’ll be a threat. Hopefully that’ll be the case going forward and it’s a pleasing one to know.”
On taking seven points from the first three league games, Hourihane said: “We’ve done OK. I am pleased with the results and points on the board but lads know I still feel there is a lot we can do to get better. Each game has challenged us and we’ve come through but we’ve got to keep working, get better and really focus on next game.”
Hourihane also praised midfielders Luca Connell and Adam Phillips who are now in their fourth seasons at Oakwell.
“I was really interested to see how they would come back this season, having been at the club a little bit of time. They have both come back really focused, I think they are really enjoying the day to day work. I am pushing them both to make the most of the opportunities ahead and the time they have in their careers.
“It’s so important in my role to push lads to get better. I don’t like players not making the most of their abilities, I am not saying that was the case with them. But they’ve had time to reflect over the summer and come back then I can’t sing enough praises about the two of them.
“They are showing signs of their best but we need to see that consistently. It’s all well and good doing it for a month but we need to see it for six or eight months. It’s my job to get them to that level.”
Teenage midfielder Vimal Yoganathan was sent off on Saturday and will be suspended for Tuesday’s game at Peterborough.
Hourihane said: “We had a little conversation on Sunday. He came to see me and I can’t wait to see him the grass this week driving for the Wimbledon game, no doubt he will have the bit between his teeth.
“It speaks volumes of the player. There were couple of occasions last year when someone turned up late or something happened and they wouldn’t apologise. Vimal fronted up to it which goes a long way with me.
“I was young at Plymouth when I got sent off away at Crewe for two yellow cards. That was a learning curve for me. It will make you stronger if you go about it in the right way.
“I value Vimal highly and I have no doubt he will learn from this and it will make him more robust and thick-skinned.”
Meanwhile, the Reds have brought in former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Voldi Mbaya and forward Lewis Gould from non-league outfit Crawley Down Gatwick.
