Barnsley will be without several key midfielders when they face Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy on November 11.
The game is effectively a dead rubber, unless we put seven past them. There could be a change at the top of the table, which might have consequences – The Imps have only been eliminated in Round Two on three occasions since returning to the EFL, and all those games were away.
All we need is a result against Barnsley, and international call-ups have left them looking weak. The Tykes’ midfield options have been heavily depleted due to international call-ups, leaving manager Conor Hourihane facing a significant selection headache ahead of the Northern Group D fixture.
Patrick Kelly has been called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time, marking a major milestone in his career. Regular starter Jon Russell is away with Jamaica, while promising youngster Jono Bland is part of the Wales under-21 squad.
Another midfielder, Vimal Yoganathan, who was on standby for the same Welsh youth side during the last international break, could also be unavailable if selected this time around.
With all four players operating in central or attacking midfield roles, Barnsley’s depth in the middle of the park will be severely tested. The South Yorkshire side’s League One fixture against Northampton Town has already been postponed due to the same absences, highlighting the scale of their international involvement.
City, who top the group with two wins from two, will look to take full advantage of Barnsley’s weakened midfield as both sides chase progression to the knockout stages.