Valerien Ismael provides injury update on Barnsley FC defender Jordan Williams

After recovering from issues with his knee and hamstring, the former Huddersfield Town player - the Reds’ most consistent player at the start of the season - is now out for an additional short spell with a separate problem.

Williams, Liam Kitching, Aapo Halme and George Miller all remain sidelined for the trip to face high-flying Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday evening.

On Williams, whose appearance from the bench in the recent FA Cup win over Tranmere was his first since November 21, Ismael said: “It could be two weeks or maybe shorter. We have to see. He is out on the pitch now and is training. He could come back quickly, but we don’t want to take the risk and we give him time.

“We don’t want to put too much pressure on him. The older issue is good, but we have an older issue and have to wait.”

Kitching is missing with a groin problem with his Reds debut remaining on hold following his recent arrival from League Two outfit Forest Green.

Ismael said: “With this kind of injury, you have to be careful and we cannot say anything. It could be next week or over next week. We’ll see.”

Meanwhile, Ismael says that the decision to loan out Academy striker Dan Bramall to League Two side Barrow made sense, with the forward unlikely at this current time to be involved in the first-team squad.

The Reds head coach added: “He is a good young player and he has shown a lot of quality in the second team and has scored a lot of goals.

“Now I think he is ready for the next step. But I think the gap between our first team and second team is too big for him. I think this step will be good for him to improve and get better and possibly close the gap.”