Barnsley boss Simon Davey has confirmed Luke Steele will start the 2008-2009 Coca Cola Championship season between the posts for The Reds.
With Heinz Muller not expected to be fit until September at the earliest, Steele, signed on a free transfer from West Brom in the summer after a great loan spell, will get first "dibs" on the goalkeeper's jersey.
The fight for the No.1 shirt is expected to be a great battle between Steele and Muller but due to a terrible cruciate ligament injury which brought about Steele's arrival, the 23 year old will start against Queens Park Rangers on 9th August.
Davey told the Sheffield Star:
"I'll be kicking the season off with a fantastic No 1 in Luke. He did very well for us last year. We've managed to secure him on a contract. He'll be starting the season unless there's a miraculous recovery from Heinz. We think that August 9 might be a little bit too soon for Heinz. It might be another month or so before he starts in a game.
"Anderson, perhaps, will be back round about a similar time. He's a couple of weeks behind Heinz.
"Their rehab is coming along very well, there have been no complications with their operations. They're looking in good spirits but it's a dangerous time for them. They feel good and they think they can play but the healing process never changes for a cruciate surgery.
"There's always a window when they'll be back playing and very rarely is it any sooner than that. They've just got to get that into their minds. We're probably looking at late August-September for Heinz and maybe three or four weeks later for Anderson".
Meanwhile former Reds captain Paul Reid has joined League One Colchester United on a free transfer after his release by Barnsley on Monday. Colchester, who were promoted to the Championship in the same year Reid led The Reds there, were relegated in May. Ironically, Reid's last start in a Reds shirt was at Layer Road in August when he was sent off!