Barry Cotter and Josh Earl are the closest of Barnsley’s injured players to being fit with Conor Hourihane hoping they can join in training from the start of next week.

Defender Earl has missed the last five games after limping off at Charlton on March 4 while wing-back Cotter has been out since New Year’s Day.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: “People like Barry Cotter and Josh Earl are back on the grass. They probably won’t be involved with the group in the next couple of games but, after that, with a full free week next week, we are hoping that those two in particular can integrate back into the squad probably from Monday. They are in good order and working well with the physios and medical department.”

Neil Farrugia, Josh Benson and goalkeepers Joe Gauci and Jackson Smith are all further behind in their recovery from injuries while Georgie Gent is out for the season.

Meanwhile, January transfer window arrivals Dexter Lembikisa and Clement Rodrigues were not in the squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan. Lembikisa had been away with Jamaica on international duty.

Hourihane said: “Dexter and Clem were out of the squad but they will be in contention going into tomorrow and champing at the bit.

“Dexter only came back into training on Friday after a long time away and a lot of travelling. We had done a lot of work on Wigan prior to him coming back so I felt it was best for him to train Friday and Saturday, get his body moving again, then get back into proper training this week.”