Championship
BARNSLEY'S Mounir El Haimour is set to stay on the bench for today's game against Southampton because his performances have dipped during Ramadan.
The French winger is a devout Muslim who cannot eat or drink between dawn and sunse
t during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Manager Simon Davey believes the absence of a normal diet before games had affected the 27-year-old over the last couple of weeks and he was subsequently dropped for the midweek defeat by Cardiff City.
"There are issues at the moment with Mounir's religion," said Davey. "Because he is not eating at the right times it means his energy levels are not what they should be and he is not at 100 per cent.
"I had a heart-to-heart with him and he said it wouldn't affect him but we see him every day in training and it has been difficult. This is a critical time for us and we need everyone at 100 per cent."
El Haimour joined the Tykes in the summer from Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax and has made four appearances so far as Barnsley have been dragged to the bottom of the Championship table.
"Everybody has a bad spell now and again but we have to stay strong, stay positive and keep the players positive," said Davey. "I have to go out and find 16 players who can rise to the top and put in a performance to turn our results around. There is a fine line between success and failure in this division and, at the moment, we are on the wrong side. It is not good enough and it is not acceptable," he admitted.
"But I have had the same principles, belief and philosophy about football since I was coaching the youngsters.
"That has not changed during the two years I have been a manager. I have learned that everybody has an opinion on things but I am stronger now and my staff are stronger. We know that we are doing the right things on a daily basis and things will turn around."
Davey, meanwhile, is hoping to be in a position to call upon the services of midfielder Anderson De Silva for the first time this season. The Brazilian has been ruled out for seven months after snapping cruciate knee ligaments in a game at Norwich City last season but has been back in full training for three weeks.
Davey regards the former Everton player, 26, as one of the club's prize assets and believes his return to action will be a major boost.
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