Reds Rocked For City Clash

Reds boss Simon Davey has been rocked after three key players were all ruled out of tomorrow's final pre-season game with Manchester City.

Defender Darren Moore and midfielders Anderson De Silva and Hugo Colace all picked up injuries in training this morning which rules them out tomorrow. All three were expected to start and fitness permitting will be in the team to face Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday week.

Davey told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:

"We have managed to get through pre-season without picking up any real injury problems and then we lose three today. Darren has rocked his ankle, Anderson will have a scan on his hamstring and Hugo has pulled a calf muscle.

"The middle of our team has been decimated in a five minute spell. It is frustrating but that is the things you have to deal with".

With no new signings expected before the game, Davey is likely to pitch in Jamaican international trialist O'Neil Thompson to partner captain Stephen Foster at the heart of the defence whilst Mounir El Haimour and Jamal Campbell-Ryce could be asked to play as makeshift central midfielders with Reuben Noble-Lazarus coming in on the wing.

On a brighter note Davey has also revealed a bid for a permanent deal for Liverpool winger Adam Hammill has been lodged this morning. Hammill, who had a very successful four month loan spell at Oakwell last season, has been hoping to break into the Liverpool side. That now looks unlikely- especially in the coming season- and Davey has moved fast. He told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:

"We have been in conversation with Liverpool again this morning. I am yet to find out the outcome of that but we have made a bid for Adam today.

"We have put a bid in for a permanent deal. Hopefully that will be a successful one and we can get Adam into the football club as soon as possible.

"There have been positive noises coming from Anfield and I do not think that we are that far apart in our valuations so hopefully we can come to an agreement".