MAX WATTERS is set to miss two weeks with injury while his fellow striker Sam Cosgrove will be assessed before Saturday’s game with Wigan Athletic.
Watters came off seven minutes into last weekend’s game at Cambridge United. It was the second time this season he has come off injured within the first ten minutes of a game, also doing so at Crawley Town in August.
Head coach Darrell Clarke said a scan revealed the injury was ‘not too serious’ but Watters is out for ‘a couple of weeks.’
Cosgrove has missed the last six matches with a back problem. Clarke said: “Sam has stepped up his training this week. We will see on Saturday what that brings to us.”
Davis Keillor-Dunn and Stephen Humphrys have been starting regularly in attack. There is also Fabio Jalo who turned 19 this week but has been left on the bench in the last three games.
The Portugal under 20 international has made 28 league appearances for Barnsley, all off the bench, which is a club record. He scored twice for the under 21s on Tuesday.
Clarke told the Chronicle: “Fabio started pre-season really well – really fit and strong.
“His shoulder came out so we had to be careful. He’s training well and it’s about forcing himself onto the pitch.
“We all know he’s a talent but he’s very young. He’s a little bit off the fitness levels I think he needs to be to start games. But he’s getting there.”
Captain Luca Connell is due to return from suspension after sitting out the draw at Cambridge.
Kelechi Nwakali came on for Watters and excelled in central midfield.
Clarke said: “Kelechi has certainly given me food for thought.
“He did an excellent job at Cambridge and I am really pleased for him and us.
“He has had to wait and be patient to get to the standard he needed to be at.
“He came in with a slight groin problem. If he over-did it, he would break down. He was also transitioning from football in other countries to League One. I like him, he’s technically very good. We’re working on other areas we think he needs to improve on.
“We have really good competition in midfield. Kelechi comes into that mix and adds value.”
Chelsea loanee Gaga Slonina is still recovering from a hand injury.
Clarke said the goalkeeper is training at Oakwell and using his time out to work on his kicking.
