New setback for Barnsley star

The former Southampton player, yet to make his second debut for the Reds after being sidelined with a foot ligament problem since the start of August following his summer move, was due to feature in an Under-23 development game at Sheffield United today, but will not be risked due to a separate thigh niggle.

Head coach Heckingbottom, whose side welcome QPR tomorrow night in a game which sees midfielder Josh Scowen make his first return to Oakwell following his summer switch to the R’s, said: “We have pulled him out of the Under-23 game today as his thigh is a little bit tender.

“We would rather him miss a few days rather than a few more weeks. He has been out for seven weeks now and we want to make sure he is right rather than pushing him for the sake of it.

“If it takes him a little bit longer now, it takes him a little bit longer.”

On the likelihood of him being out until the end of the next international break, he added: “Yes. I wanted to try and get him involved with the lads against Millwall, but we will wait and see (now). We will see how he is.”

The Reds will monitor midfielder Brad Potts today after he suffered an ankle knock in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Wolves.

Heckingbottom, without Andy Yiadom (back) until after the forthcoming international hiatus, said: “Brad has a swollen ankle, but he wanted to train today, so we will see how he is.”