BARNSLEY head coach Daniel Stendel says that Vimal Yoganathan and Cieran Slicker have a good chance of being back in contention after the international break - if their fitness work continues to go well.

Midfielder Yoganathan had been recuperating since picking up a leg injury in a pre-season friendly at York City in July and has yet to feature this term.

Goalkeeper Slicker, signed on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town in the summer, is awaiting his Reds' competitive debut after also getting injured ahead of the new League One campaign. Stendel's side welcome Leicester City on Saturday and they return to league action on October 10 at Stockport County, with their scheduled games against Bradford City and MK Dons called off due to international call-ups.

The Reds are in EFL Trophy action over two midweeks in the three-week international hiatus, hosting Leeds United under-21s on Tuesday, September 22 and visiting Fleetwood Town for another group game on Tuesday, October 6.

Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel. Photo: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel. Photo: Tony Johnson.

On Yoganathan and Slicker, Stendel said: "I think especially Vimal Yoganathan and Kieran Slicker have had a really good rehab and have improved well in the last two weeks.

"We hope they can be back in training after the international break and maybe be fit enough. We will see, but it's positive news."

Providing an update on loan signing Ziyad Larkeche, who is back in training after missing the games against Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle, he continued: "Normally I think he is an option for Saturday, but it depends on his feeling and training on the pitch. We will see what happens today and then we can decide.

"At the moment, it's only the pain which is the reason why he cannot train, and I hope he is still a little bit better after the last two days. We will see."

Barnsley's Vimal Yoganathan (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

The trophy games could also help in the assimilation of recent defensive signing Jubril Okedina, who has joined after impressing on trial.

The former Cambridge United man has penned a season-long loan, with the Reds having a further year's option.

Stendel continued: "I think he gave us a good impression last week in training and then we decided to sign him because we think he can help us in a short time.

"I think it's similar when you train and (after) in the international break he is ready to play (at league level). He needs a little time. It's normal when you don't train so long and don't play so much, but the feeling in training is good and I think he is an option after the international break."

Asked whether there is anything else imminent on the free agent front after bringing in Odekina, he added: "No, there's not one name at the moment in my head. We are still looking, but it's not that we have to do it at the moment."