Barnsley will be without second choice goalkeeper David Preece for the remainder of the season after he fractured his wrist at the weekend.
The 35 year old who has played understudy to Luke Steele for the majority of the last two seasons fractured his hand whilst warming up before the game at Southampton last Saturday and will now be sidelined until the summer.
Academy stopper Lukas Lidakevicius is likely to be on the bench for the visit of Reading this weekend.
Preece who has also had spells at Sunderland, Darlington, Aberdeen, Silkeborg and OB has struggled to find game time during his three years at Oakwell, making just seven appearances. Preece failed to make a single appearance last season and has made just one in this campaign- the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton in August. During his seven games Preece has managed to keep two clean sheets but has conceded 17 times.
Meanwhile manager Keith Hill believes new recruit Lee Collins will become an integral part of his side and will definitely feature this weekend.
The 23 year old is signing on loan from financially stricken Port Vale with a view to making the move permanent in the summer and Hill told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:
"He can operate anywhere across the back four,"
"He can play left-back but probably prefers to play at centre-half."
"He's got the right ingredients to be a success.
"There were a lot of other Championship clubs looking at him. When Port Vale found themselves in the unfortunate position they are, the time was right to try and sign him."