Defence woe for Reds boss

The only injuries the club have picked up over pre-season are both in that defensive berth, with Marciano Bruma and Bobby Hassell both set to miss the start of the season, which begins in eight days.

Bruma, a free-transfer signing from Sparta Rotterdam this summer, could be out of action for as long as six weeks after his hand was stood on by Tykes teammate Dominik Werling in training.

The 23-year-old had an operation on Tuesday.

Manager Simon Davey's mood was lifted by the news that Hassell's long-standing knee problem is finally showing signs of healing.

But the gritty full-back is still unlikely to be back in the first-team fold until late August.

Davey is far from despondent, as he believes that summer signing Rob Kozluk can comfortably deputise in the role.

Davey said: "Marciano had an operation on his hand on Tuesday and the surgeon is telling us that he can't have any contact on his hand for the next four weeks.

"In effect, we are losing him for six weeks, which is a blow for him and for us.

"Bobby came in and trained the first day of pre-season three weeks ago and has not trained since but he has now been given the all-clear. He will up his training routine every day but he's playing catch-up. Bobby needs three weeks of work.

"It is a worry that he's missed a lot of pre-season because you're always playing catch-up. Players usually have a good year with a good pre-season behind them."