NEW signings Rory Delap and Chris O’Grady could both make their debuts for Barnsley this afternoon away to Blackpool.
Experienced Stoke City midfielder Delap and Sheffield Wednesday striker O’Grady have joined the Reds on loan until the end of the season.
And there’s extra competition for places with striker Jason Scotland, who scored on his debut on Tuesday night, also pushing hard for a starting berth.
Scotland needed just two minutes to score his first goal for his new club in an impressive 2-0 home win over Millwall at Oakwell.
But the Reds are now on the road for their next three matches, including today’s tough away clash with the Seasiders at Bloomfield Road.
And they will try to extend their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions without the talents of teenager John Stones.
Stones, aged 18, left for Premier League Everton on transfer deadline day, leaving Reds boss David Flitcroft with the headache of who to play at right wing-back, a position Stones has made his own this season.
Delap could be the man to fill the void, although Scott Wiseman played there in the club’s 1-0 win away to Hull in the FA Cup fourth round two matches ago.
The versatile Bobby Hassell could also play there, although Flitcroft prefers to play the club’s current longest-serving player as a sweeper or centre-back.
Both Wiseman and Hassell were on the subs’ bench for the club’s victory over the Lions four days ago.
However, Flitcroft will be without Jimmy McNulty who remains sidelined with a knee problem, while midfielder Stephen Dawson is out with ankle ligament damage.
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