BARNSLEY head coach Daniel Stendel has confirmed that he could include recent signing Ben Ben Hamed Touré on the bench in Saturday’s League One game with Stevenage – if his visa clearance comes through.

The Ivorian striker, who joined the club last Sunday from French outfit FC Annecy, returned briefly to France at the start of the working week before returning ahead of Wednesday’s home game against Blackpool.

He was not involved in the Reds’ 2-1 Oakwell victory, but Stendel is not ruling him out from a bench appearance versus Stevenage, if the Reds receive the green light from the relevant authorities.

On Touré, in training with his team-mates on Thursday and Friday, Stendel said: "He arrived on Wednesday and he’s doing his visa thing.

FC Annacy striker Ben Hamed Toure, who has joined Barnsley. Picture courtesy of BFC.

placeholder image — FC Annacy striker Ben Hamed Toure, who has joined Barnsley. Picture courtesy of BFC.

"At the moment, I don’t know if he can play tomorrow. But next week, he is an option (definitely) and then he’s trained one week with us.

"Maybe, he is an option for the bench on Saturday. But until now, I don’t know if it can happen or not.

"I think the feeling is he’s a really positive guy. And he gives us a little bit (something different) than other players in the offence have at the moment.

"The only thing is we have to learn a little bit of French more.