Barnsley confirmed Donovan Pines has concussion after receiving a blow to the face at Stevenage on Saturday and is likely to miss both games this week.
The American defender sustained a gash to his face in the 3-0 loss in Hertfordshire and came off at half-time, when the score was 0-0.
Pines, who has been feeling sick and is now undergoing the usual concussion protocols, is expected to miss tomorrow’s game at Manchester United in the EFL Cup and the league trip to Burton Albion on Saturday. It is unclear if he will return for the home match with Stockport County on September 28.
Head coach Darrell Clarke called the half-time break ‘chaos’, ‘messy’, ‘frustrating’ and ‘manic’. He added that he only found out that Pines would be unable to play in the second half with a minute before the re-start as he did not have a replacement contact lens.
Clarke said: “Donovan is a big physical presence and that’s one of the reasons we conceded a couple of goals just after half-time.”
Clarke brought off Barry Cotter at the break as well Pines. He said: “I am more critical of myself than the players. I will take it on the chin. One or two decisions I made weren’t correct. It happens as a head coach. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong.
“I was kicking myself all day Sunday – a frustrated man. In a lot of games, I’ve made changes and the team’s adapted very well. I would like to think over my career I’ve prove I get more right than wrong.”