BARNSLEY head coach Conor Hourihane has confirmed that veteran defender Marc Roberts will be involved in Saturday’s final-day outing against Stockport County at Oakwell.

The veteran defender, 35, in his second spell with the Reds, is out of contract in June and this weekend could mark his final appearance for the club.

Roberts had endured an injury-hit campaign at Oakwell and has made just 20 appearances.

Adam Phillips will be available, despite currently battling on with an ankle issue – he came on from the bench in the midweek win at Northampton Town.

Stalwart Barnsley centre-half Marc Roberts. Photo: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Stalwart Barnsley centre-half Marc Roberts. Photo: Tony Johnson.

Loan forward Tom Bradshaw (Achilles), who came off in the same game, is a doubt.

On Roberts, Hourihane – who takes charge of the Reds for the last time before leaving the club after just over a season in charge, said: "I think Robbo will be back involved.

"I want to try and get Robbo on the pitch at some stage.

"His contract's obviously up and he's got a real connection with the club and a real connection with myself as well, obviously being a former team-mate.

Barnsley's Adam Phillips opens the scoring in the win at Rotherham United earlier this month. (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

"So getting him on the pitch for the final day of the season I think is important and something that I want to give to him as well.

"I think Phillo will be fine, which is a positive. He came on at half-time (at Northampton) a lot earlier than expected because we were kind of fortunate for him to get on the bench really on Tuesday night. So Phillo’s come through us and should be absolutely fine.

"Bradders will be one that we'll have to assess over the next couple of days. It’s nothing major, no scan needed or anything like that. But today and tomorrow, will he be fit enough to make the bench is probably his best scenario.”

Saturday could also be a farewell for top-scorer David McGoldrick, 38, who is out of contract this summer, with the striker recently revealing that the club had yet to talk to him regarding fresh terms.

On whether it could represent a goodbye for the talismanic forward, Hourihane, a former team-mate, added: “Potentially. But look, I think that's down to the club and new management to sort out contract situations with a lot of players, not just Didzy.

"That will to be seen and it's not at the top of my agenda.

“Top of my agenda is getting the lads ready for the weekend. So yes, time will tell on that one."

On whether he has made asked to make recommendations regarding players coming off contract, Hourihane confirmed: "No, absolutely nothing and I don't expect there to be.

"(It’s) new management, a new manager, different styles, a different way of looking at things and different opinions.

"So I think it would be not the right thing for me to be giving my true opinion on players in terms of do they fit into different style systems (and) way of playing. So it's completely different potentially moving forward.”