Dyche told a press conference: "Well, we'll see because Popey's not quite fully-fit yet, but he's been training with us a long time now and he's chomping, that's for sure, to be ready to play.

"We'll decide over the next couple of days, but certainly his mentality is really clear. Tom has come in and done well, Joe has done well...

"Sometimes it can be unfortunate for keepers, and fortunate for the one coming in. What I mean by that is it's good goalkeeping, that's fine, but also sometimes it's also that matter that you do need the team in front of you to operate.

"Tom has come in and the team has operated in front of him, so that's helpful as well.

"I like them all. It's who's up for the task, who is ready to play at any given time. That's obviously what I'm here to do, pick a team that can win games."

Pope is not the only man who could be involved after an injury lay-off this weekend with full-back Stephen Ward and midfielder Steven Defour also back in contention.

Ward has been out of action since September and Defour since the beginning of December, both with knee injuries, but Dyche has indicated that they too could play against Barnsley.

He said: "Steven Defour has got a good chance for the weekend. Stephen Ward has got a chance as well – he's going really well and has been training for a couple of weeks now.

"Equally, we'll consider Popey as well as being part of that group and that thinking, so there's three more who are getting somewhere close again and possible for the weekend."

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