Barrow boss Mark Cooper has suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday’s third round Emirates FA Cup tie at Barnsley.
Lively forward Josh Gordon will miss the game because of a calf injury picked up in last week’s 2-1 home defeat to Bradford City.
In an increasingly frustrating season for Cooper, a lack of goals and injuries have been the two major problems he’s faced, leaving the Bluebirds just four points above the drop zone.
The 27-year-old Stoke-born striker has netted five times in 22 appearances this season since joining Barrow in the summer from Walsall. With the Midlands club, he netted 21 times in 107 games.
Gordon had netted the hosts’ goal in their New Year’s Day defeat by Bradford City and although he finished the game, reported the injury during the week.
On top of Gordon’s absence, Cooper looks like being without influential midfielder Robbie Gotts, who is still having to contend with a groin problem, and Joe Grayson is a definite non-starter with an achilles injury.
It means Offrande Zanzala will come back into contention after a knock kept him out of the clash with The Bantams, while Kgosi Ntlhe and Jamie Devitt are working on their fitness levels as they recover from injuries.
One player who won’t be in the Barnsley line-up is Ben Williams as the defender completed a move to League One Cheltenham Town on Wednesday.
