Beram Kayal is in the hunt for a start at Barnsley – despite his subdued start to 2017.

Boss Chris Hughton says he has seen enough in training to have the Israel international in his thoughts at Oakwell.

Kayal returned from injury in the first home game of the year, scoring early in the FA Cup win over MK Dons.

But he has not really kicked on from there and was replaced at half-time in the recent defeat at Huddersfield.

His only other start since suffering an ankle injury at home to today’s opponents in late September came in the 1-0 win over Cardiff, when he was taken off shortly before compatriot Tomer Hemed scored the winner.

Hughton told The Argus: “It is always difficult with players coming back in because they need a period in the team to get back to those levels.

“When you have got the competition for places that we have, that is even more difficult. But he is right in there, in the frame. He is ready.

 

“My choice in the last game, apart from Dale (Stephens), was to go with Steve Sidwell, who I thought had done well in the previous game. But Beram trains well every day.”

Barnsley have a two-from-three decision in midfield with Alex Mowatt, a recent signing from Leeds, now free of suspension.