Scunthorpe welcome Barnsley to Glanford Park on Saturday in one of seven all-Championship third round ties.
All-Championship cup tie at Glanford Park
Scunthorpe welcome Barnsley to Glanford Park on Saturday in one of seven all-Championship third round ties.
The home side are six places below the Tykes in the league table, but will fancy their cup chances against Mark Robins' men.
Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper has recovered from an ankle injury but could be laid low by a virus for the tie.
Hooper has shaken off the ankle complaint which ruled him out of the last two matches, only to fall ill on Thursday.
The top scorer was sent home by the doctor but will return to training on New Year's Day to see if he is well enough to feature.
Midfielder Michael O'Connor has also been to the doctor and could miss the clash with diarrhoea-type symptoms.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Josh Lillis could again replace Joe Murphy between the sticks as the regular shot-stopper struggles with a shoulder injury.
Josh Wright is also a doubt heading into the tie, having picked up a calf injury in the 3-1 defeat to West Brom on Monday.
On the suspension front, Andrew Wright and Grant McCann miss the game following their red cards against the Baggies while Cliff Byrne returns from a ban.
Barnsley news
Barnsley's on-loan pair Ryan Shotton and Carl Dickinson will return to the squad.
Central defender Shotton and Stoke team-mate Dickinson missed Monday's home win over Middlesbrough after their loan spells at Oakwell had expired.
But both players have since extended their respective deals until the end of the season.
Manager Robins now has a selection dilemma for the cup tie at Glanford Park.
He recalled skipper Stephen Foster and Rob Kozluk to his back four against Middlesbrough and must now decide who, if anyone, will make way.
Strikers Jon Macken and Iain Hume were unused substitutes last time out and will be keen to be involved while Jacob Butterfield, a half-time replacement on Monday, will be hoping to start.
Robins has no other new injury or suspension problems as his side look to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches.
