Barnsley FC getting 'closer and closer' to new signings, says Gerhard Struber

The Reds head coach has made no secret about the fact that he wants to bring in further players to boost his options and spoke of the need to add some further recruits to provide a stronger physical dimension to his squad following Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home reverse to Luton Town in their Championship opener.

An imposing centre-half in Michal Helik arrived last week alongside Isaac Christie-Davies, a 6ft 2in central midfielder.

Bringing in a targetman option up front is likely to be high on Struber's 'to-do' list alongside a left-back cover.

On the situation regarding potential new arrivals, Struber, whose side visit Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (6pm), said: "(It is) closer and closer.

"We are looking in many positions and it is a big challenge to find the right players and players to help us with the quality.

"But I have said many times before, we have no stress and work in a good focus to find the right players.

"I am hopeful. It is not always in my hands. I need my owners to also give a big impact that we can finalise the situation with new players. At the moment, we are working for that and I hope, in the end, for a good signal from the owners to find the right players."

Meanwhile, Struber says that midfielder Callum Styles is a doubt for the trip to Teesside after picking up a knock at the weekend.

Clark Oduor (groin) is again likely to be missing, but Aapo Halme is available after missing the weekend's game with a facial injury sustained on international duty with Finland.

Ben Williams (knee) is a long-term absentee.

The Austrian head coach said: "Clark still has problems with the muscle and also there is the situation with Callum, who got a hit in the (Luton) game. We will see in the training in the afternoon. I hope he is ready.

"At the moment, he is not 100 per cent. But we have training and I hope he is ready.

"Aapo is ok now and is back and has a good view at the moment."

On tomorrow's opponents Boro, Struber added: "It is a team with very high individual quality, especially (Britt) Assombalonga and (Ashley) Fletcher and the two strikers are very quick and very good physically.

"From the individual quality, it is very high. But for us, if we have a good discipline in our style, it is not so easy for Middlesbrough."