Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane gives update on Patrick Kelly plus his view on potential Ireland recall for David McGoldrick

The Northern Irishman, who has been impressive in recent months, has missed the club's last three matches against Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City and Cardiff City after picking up a calf issue in the game at Leyton Orient on February 28.

But he is poised to return to the fray at Field Mill, in the first of three matches which Hourihane believes will decide whether the Reds have an active interest in the play-offs after the next international break.

After facing the Stags, Barnsley welcome struggling duo Wigan Athletic and Kelly's former side Doncaster Rovers next week.

On whether Kelly could return at Mansfield, Hourihane said: "Yes, potentially. We'll see what happens with the squad. The potential maybe is for Patrick Kelly to be back for us.

"So that would obviously give us a situation with the squad to make us better because Pat's a very, very good player for us. So yes, we're hopeful that Pat will be involved with the weekend.

"We were kind of hoping that he'd get back for an international break to start with. And then over the last 10 days, he's done his couple of bits and went to see a couple of people about the injury.

"It wasn't bad as first feared in terms of the length-wise. The three games now that we've got coming up this week are really, really important for us. And it's important to have our best players involved.

"Pat will hopefully have a good couple of days on the grass over the next couple of days and then be involved at the weekend."

Hourihane says he is not putting it past evergreen striker David McGoldrick earning a shock recall to the Republic of Ireland amid speculation across the Irish Sea that Ireland are contemplating handing the veteran a call-up amid his outstanding form for the Reds.

McGoldrick, nominated for the League One player of the month gong for February, has scored 16 times this term. Eleven goals have arrived since mid-January.

The striker was last capped at international level in October 2020 for Ireland, who are without the likes of Evan Ferguson, Adam Idah and Mikey Johnston ahead of the World Cup play-off fixture against Czechia.

Hourihane, himself a former Ireland international, said: "I've not heard anything officially to say it's happening or it's not happening.

"But I have seen a few things said by certain people and I know that Ireland have got injuries at the top end of the pitch.

"So he's a man in form and you never know. So what he could bring to that group is experience, the big games and the goals that he's scored over the course of his career.

"And for him to potentially be involved in a playoff campaign to go to the World Cup at his age would be pretty special. But let's just see if it happens first."