Barnsley v Crystal Palace: Davies injury is bitter pill for Reds chief to swallow

Craig Davies, the headline grabber in a promising opening quarter to the Championship season, has tweaked his hamstring and could be on the sidelines for anything between two to six weeks.

It is a big blow for Hill, whose side have turned heads with a brand of football that has led to some eye-catching victories.

Davies scored four times in the 5-0 win at Birmingham last month and has eight goals overall, meaning his absence will be keenly felt by a threadbare squad over the coming weeks.

The news stirs echoes of last season and the corresponding fixture with Crystal Palace. On that night last December, Barnsley won 2-1 to move to within two points of the play-off spots.

That promise, though, was quickly eroded by the loss of Jacob Butterfield to injury and Ricardo Vaz Te to West Ham in the following month’s transfer window. Barnsley won only five more games that season.

Hill is already planning ahead of the anticipated January interest in Davies by recommending to the board who he wants to sign if they fail to keep their star striker.

But Davies’s imminent absence is a more immediate cause for concern.

“It’s a big blow but it’s maybe a result of the fatigue issue going into the international break,” said Hill of his Wales international striker.

“If Craig might have been a little more honest with us, we might have withdrawn him from the game at the weekend maybe 10 minutes prior to him pulling up, because I do believe he was suffering from a little bit of fatigue or cramp.

“I’m not disappointed in him. It’s been a good season-and-a-half that Craig has had at Barnsley and he will only get better, and maybe he’ll learn this lesson himself.

“It’s very difficult in those circumstances to make the right decisions as a player. It’s a bitter pill to swallow but it’s something we are trying to manage.”

In Davies’s absence, Hill is calling on his other attacking players to chip in with the goals, just as Tomasz Cywka did last Saturday with the only goal at Charlton.

“I’m pleased with Tomas, pleased with his contribution, his assists and his goals,” said Hill.

“We’ve got to have threats other than Craig. Chris Dagnall, Jacob Mellis, Stephen Dawson and Cywka have really got to chip in with the goals.

“It would be nice to get another striker in but it’s going to be very difficult to replace Craig Davies at this moment in time, or recruit someone to take a little bit of pressure off him.”

Hill is devising a strategy for January as he plots to strengthen not only his current squad, but to ensure Barnsley are in safe hands in the long term.

“Obviously there’ll be a retaining issue coming up in January; that’s how you build for the future and not just the here and now,” he said.

“You’ve got to deal with the here and now and look to the future. I’m trying to look at next season and the one beyond by retaining and developing players, because that’s how you create a chance to become successful.”

Midfielder Stephen Dawson has a tightness of the groin and is a doubt for tonight’s game.

His absence further undermines what Hill is trying to achieve at Barnsley, whereby any player who comes into the team has the manager’s footballing ethos ingrained into them and, therefore, makes a seamless transition.

But mounting injuries to senior players means he is having to place too much pressure on his youngsters.

“It’d be nice to expect a seamless transition but it’s difficult,” said Hill. “Players are coming in cold sometimes.

“Jordan Clark might get his opportunity. We’re asking Paul Digby if he’s fit to maybe step up. We’re putting a lot of pressure on young players and I certainly see John Stones needing a breather, but needs must.

“The impact it has on an 18-year-old player is something I’ve got to legislate for. I can see it in performances; all of a sudden you start asking yourselves questions and you over-think things as a young player, instead of going out there with the energy and youthfulness of no experience, and just playing the game for the love of it. I saw a bit of that in Stonesy’s first-half performance on Saturday.

“In an ideal world, I’d have every player available. But we’re down to the bare bones and it’s a worry.”

Palace – who are unbeaten in eight but without suspended playmaker Wilfried Zaha tonight – yesterday denied Bolton permission to speak to manager Dougie Freedman.

“There’s an appreciation within football for Dougie and what he’s trying to achieve,” said Hill.

Last six games: Barnsley LWDLLW, Palace DWWWWD.

Last time: Barnsley 2 Crystal Palace 1; December 6, 2011; Championship.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).