David McGoldrick is set to return to the Barnsley squad for their weekend game against Bradford City after a layoff for a hamstring issue.
The veteran forward has missed the last two Tykes matches against fellow South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United and Port Vale, with January signing Tom Bradshaw leading the line in his absence.
Hourihane Reveals Timeline
Speaking to the press after their goalless draw with Vale, Conor Hourihane gave a brief update on McGoldrick’s fitness. (Quotes via Yorkshire Post):
“We’re hoping he will be involved on Saturday. It will be touch and go, at best he will potentially be on the bench. If he has a good couple of good days we may see him involved.”
The 37-year-old has had a few brief absences throughout the season, but has been readily available for the majority of the Tykes’ League One fixtures this season, with 35 appearances so far.
Barnsley Rues Chances
With McGoldrick out, the Oakwell club played Port Vale, the Staffordshire club still battling for a slim chance at survival with games in hand on 20th-place AFC Wimbledon.
However, the Tykes could not find an opening to punish Jon Brady’s side, with an Adam Phillips missed penalty the best chance out of 19 shots for the visitors to break the deadlock at Vale Park.
Despite recording a clean sheet, Hourihane was displeased with his side’s final third performance.
“We could say we’re very happy with the clean sheet but I would have preferred a 2-1 win. It’s pleasing for the lads at the back who have worked relentlessly hard.
“Everyone thinks we should just turn up and beat these teams because of the position they are in but it’s not the case at all they are fighting for their lives. They have put in two very very good performances. It should have been six points but it wasn’t to be.
“We absolutely should have won it. There was only one team going to win it. They had a bit of a spell for five or six minutes at the start of the second half after they made a change.”
McGoldrick Can Inspire Late-Season Surge
While their chances of the playoffs are non-existent and the big win over Rotherham United has likely put them clear of relegation, there is still a lot on the pitch for Barnsley to prove.
Off-field conversations around finances have created a sour mood around the club as of late, and the jury is still out on whether Conor Hourihane is the man to lead the Tykes forward beyond this season.
Now, with five games of the campaign left, it is about building some form of positive momentum to head into the summer, and McGoldrick’s return can bring that around after Tom Bradshaw has largely struggled to fill the boots of the departed Davis Keillor-Dunn.
That starts on Saturday with another Yorkshire rivalry battle at home against playoff-bound Bradford City, and claiming a positive result against a team which has struggled on the road is on the cards, but their chances will be much stronger if the former Notts County man can overcome his hamstring injury in time.
Matches against Stevenage and Stockport County follow after the Bantams, and claiming some big results over the next month can put some positivity back in the club before the transfer window.
