BARNSLEY'S Brazilian midfielder Anderson de Silva faces an uphill climb to be fit for the start of next season
And Oakwell boss Simon Davey admits that he is not sure if the 25-year-old will make it.
The ex-Everton player is recovering from a knee operation in Cadiz, Spain.
It's the same ligament repair surgery that goalkeeper Heinz Muller underwent in Germany.
"Anderson is around five or six weeks behind Heinz in his rehabilitation," Davey said,
"With cruciates you never know how they're going to react. We'll have to wait and see.
"Heinz is coming back the week before pre-season training starts to check with our physios and bring himself up to speed as far as possible."
Barnsley are reporting back on July 3 and the Championship season begins on August 9. Davey expects to have available Muller for both.
Striker Michael Coulson's is scheduled to have his knee surgery on Thursday.
He will miss pre-season training as well as the Championship's kick-off date.
Davey has confirmed that he is not interested in signing striker Keigan Parker, who was discarded by Blackpool a couple of days ago, and he will not pursue Barnsley-born Geoff Horsfield, who is set to quit Sheffield United following a barren loan spell at Scunthorpe United.
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