BARNSLEY may be without several of their usual starters when they visit Shrewsbury Town as defender Josh Earl is suspended while midfielders Adam Phillips and Luca Connell are both injury doubts.

Captain Connell came off with an injury during the 2-2 home draw with Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

Top-scorer Phillips returned on Saturday at Blackpool after missing three games with a toe problem but came off with an ankle injury and missed the midweek game.

Head coach Darrell Clarke would not comment on their chances of playing at Shrewsbury but said that a third midfielder – Josh Benson who has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem – is back in full training.

Earl is banned for one match after picking up his fifth booking of the season, for impeding Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion who was trying to take a quick kick.

It will be the first league game he has missed since signing in January.

Clarke said: “It’s a blow. He’s a quality player who has done very well and is comfortable with his left foot. He’ll be a miss but that’s why we have a squad. Somebody has an opportunity to come in.”

Goalkeeper Ben Killip and midfielder Kelechi Nwakali – who is yet to make his league debut – were both not on the bench on Tuesday.

Clarke said: “I made the decision to not have a ‘keeper on the bench. It was tactical.

I had a few achey bodies, I wanted to be able to flip into a different formation if I needed to. It’s not something I will do all the time. I think it’s a one per cent chance of your ‘keeper coming off injured or getting sent off. I wanted different options for that particular game.

“Kelechi is training much better and will be involved in the game on Saturday.”

Marc Roberts could make his 100th appearance for the club and Mael de Gevigney his 50th successive league start, in which he has played every minute.