BARNSLEY head coach Daniel Stendel has confirmed that the club will receive an update next week regarding the fitness of Connor O'Riordan - with the defender having an appointment to see a specialist early next week to assess his shoulder problem.

The centre-back, on a season-long loan from Blackburn Rovers, suffered the injury in training last Friday.

It has arrived at an untimely juncture, with Jack Shepherd serving the first match of a three-game ban in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Aldershot at Oakwell and the Reds lacking defensive cover.

Stendel, whose side are on a 11-match winless streak in all competitions, said: "He cannot train. He has an appointment on Monday, I think, with a specialist.

Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel. Picture: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel. Picture: Tony Johnson.

"After that, we know what is the process to get him back in training.

Maybe shorter, maybe longer, but we are still waiting for the opinion from the specialist."

Stendel reports no fresh injury issues ahead of the first-round tie against the Shots, although Ben Hamed Toure is spending time away from the club due to a family bereavement.

The Reds boss confirmed: "It's again about private reasons. He is not in Barnsley at the moment. It means he cannot play on Saturday.

Barnsley summer signing Connor O'Riordan. Picture courtesy of BFC.

"Daniel Johnson has had one week more to train.

"This is good for us. I think he is an option for Saturday. Isaac Smith started to train last week.

"He needed a bit of time, but he is on the way back in the squad.

"And all the other players at the moment can train and we (only) will be without Ben and Jack."

Stendel has confirmed that the club decided not to appeal against the red card Shepherd picked up early on last weekend against Oxford United.

Shepherd recklessly crashed into Oxford winger Louie Sibley early on at Oakwell, prompting a furious reaction from the U’s players.

Alongside the weekend game, he will also miss the league games against Wigan Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday. He is available for the final Trophy group game versus Oldham Athletic at Oakwell.

Asked whether the club appealed, Stendel said: "No. In my experience in a short time, we appealed with the situation from Luca Connell (sent off against Leicester City in September - the appeal was dismissed).

"I would say, in my opinion, there was no chance for a (successful) red card (appeal this time). I had not the feeling it would change so much when we appealed it."