BARNSLEY remain low on options up front going into Saturday’s match with Bristol Rovers despite bringing in two new forwards on deadline day.
Sam Cosgrove has missed the last two games due to a knock while Max Watters came off at former club Crawley on Saturday with a foot problem.
Clarke wouldn’t comment on Cosgrove’s injury but said there was ‘very positive news’ on Watters and he ‘hopefully will not be out too long.’
Fabio Jalo is recovering from a shoulder problem and has just returned to non-contact training.
New signing Stephen Humphrys has not had a pre-season so is not expected to start straight away.
Clarke said: “He hasn’t had a pre-season but he’s done a lot of work one on one.
“We will step up his programme now and get him as fit as we can as early as possible so he can play as many minutes as possible.
“Everyone is in contention.”
New signing Davis Keillor-Dunn, usually an attacking midfielder, could play up front while Kyran Lofthouse - usually a right-back - started there on Saturday and academy graduate Aiden Marsh has been praised for his impact off the bench.
Vimal Yoganathan, a teenage midfielder who has been used up front recently, is on international duty with Wales under 19s.
Clarke said: “You want as many players fit as possible. We will monitor it and try to limit the amount of muscle injuries. It will be a lot better when the full strikeforce is fit.”