Kevin Long has been praised for his contribution to Barnsley who are keeping an eye on potential replacements as his loan expires tomorrow.

The 25-year-old Irish centre-back has played 12 games for the Reds in a loan spell from Championship Burnley that has been extended three times but will run out after tomorrow's trip to Gillingham and cannot be lengthened.

Centre-back could be an area the Reds look to recruit in with the only senior players in that position being Alfie Mawson, Marc Roberts – who has not started for three months – and Lewin Nyatanga, who is still recovering from a knee injury. With five loan players allowed in a matchday squad, Barnsley can bring in two to add to Lloyd Isgrove, Josh Brownhill and Ashley Fletcher who are all due to stay until the end of the season.

They can also sign free agents. Caretaker Paul Heckingbottom said: "We'll keep an eye out so that, if we need to bring someone in before the deadline on March 24, we can move quickly because we have already identified our targets.

"Kevin has been fantastic and he will be a big miss but we have got other good centre-backs who are more than capable of getting good results. It's a big opportunity for Robbo or Lewin to step up and stake a claim."

Chief executive Ben Mansford praised Long, saying: "I would like to say what a fantastic loan signing he has been. "He is up there with Chris O'Grady among the best loan signings the club has made. Kevin's performance at Fleetwood on Thursday showed maturity, commitment and professionalism.

"To play so well and score our first penalty, knowing he was doing that not for his own club but for a loan club and knowing he wouldn't play at Wembley, shows he will have a fantastic career.  I hope he goes out with a good performance at Gillingham (tomorrow) and I would like to invite him back to the final at Wembley."