MARC Roberts and Josh Earl are expected to miss Saturday’s FA Cup game but could return in the midweek league match said Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane, who also hinted that Georgie Gent and Fabio Jalo will be considered for Peterborough at the weekend.
Roberts came off during the 5-0 midweek loss at Port Vale in the EFL Trophy with a groin issue.
His fellow defender Earl missed both games this week with a continuation of his back problem.
Hourihane said: “Robbo is being assessed. He’s recovered a lot better than we expected.
“He won’t be available for the weekend but I wasn’t going to play him anyway. Fingers crossed he’ll be in the mix for Lincoln (on Tuesday in the league).”
Left-back Nathanael Ogbeta has been on the bench for most of the last month after suffering with illness but was left out of the squad altogether on Tuesday.
Hourihane said: “He picked up something in training a couple of days ago.
“He is being assessed and probably won’t be OK for Saturday.
“Josh Earl will miss Saturday but we are hoping he will be OK for Tuesday.”
Jalo, the Portuguese forward, has been out since April with a knee injury picked up against Peterborough.
The 20-year-old travelled with the first team to Stockport County on Saturday and took part in the warm-up then played and scored for the under 21s in a 1-1 home draw against Cardiff City on Tuesday.
“It’s really positive. It was good to see him play and get a goal.
“We still feel he’s a little bit off.
“We will give him as many minutes as we can moving forward – in the under 21s or Saturday in the cup game.
“He’s very similar to Reyes (Cleary) with pace power and dribbling ability, on the opposite side of the pitch, the right.
“Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, he’s integrated into a first team league squad.”
Left-back Gent has been out since March with an Achilles problem which needed surgery.
He has played for the under 21s and was an unused substitute against York City in the FA Cup a month ago.
“Georgie is doing really well and played well in the last under 21s game.
“We’re hoping he can be integrated back into first team squads if needed.
“He’s played his fair share of 21s games and trained for a decent amount of time.
“His injury was not easy but we feel he’s in a good place to be considered in the first team squad.”
Gent and Ogbeta are Barnsley’s two natural left-backs but Hourihane has also used usual centre-backs such as Earl, Jake Rooney and Mael de Gevigney in that position.
“Josh has played there a couple of times and gives us height, particularly against certain teams.
“Nate and Georgie are more attacking-minded.
“It’s specific to the game and what we feel is needed.
“Our left-back at times is needed in a certain role in possession, to stay in a certain area and defend without the ball as a natural left-back. It’s what is needed for each game.”
