MARTIN Devaney has had a surprise call-up for Barnsley's Championship opener at QPR.
Manager Simon Davey has been forced to change the plan he formulated for tomorrow's match as late as yesterday when Jamal Campbell-Ryce dropped out of the squad and into casualty nursing a sore elbow.
"It was a freak training-ground accident," Davey explained.
"He was just about to cross a ball and fell. The player himself doesn't remember much about it.
"Jamal was a key player and in our starting line-up but we have a ready-made replacement."
Devaney will replace the winger, taking over on the right as Mounir El Haimour makes his debut on the left wing.
Davey is set to hand out two other debuts alongside El Haimour.
Veteran centre-back Darren Moore is set to play alongside Denis Souza while Davey has confirmed that £1.2 million striker Iain Hume will partner Jon Macken tomorrow.
Cash-rich QPR are being tipped for promotion after recruiting Real Madrid midfield starlet Dani Parejo, Italian striker Samuel Di Carmine, winger Lee Cook, goalkeeper Radek Cerny, right-back Peter Ramage and centre-back Kaspars Gorkss.
"QPR are being fancied to go up but our players have looked really sharp in training and we feel we can give them a good game," Davey declared.
It's over 50 years since Barnsley last won at Loftus Road and last season they lost 2-0 there.
"Our away form was a big problem last season and our aim is to improve it," Davey said.
"The players are aware it has got to be better.
"We will still be an attacking team this season.
"We have to be when you have the likes of Jon Macken, Iain Hume, Brian Howard and Martin Devaney in your squad.
"We will try to be more resolute, tougher and nastier away from home to pick up more points on the road."
Barnsley probable: Steele, Foster, Moore, Souza, van Homoet, Devaney, Hassell, Howard, El Haimour, Macken, Hume. Subs from: Letheren, Odejayi, Atkin-son, Butterfield, Kozluk, Mostto.
Barnsley: Preview for the season, including ins and outs and squad numbers. Don't miss Saturday's Green'Un newspaperWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 405 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
