In addition to a series of players ruled out with injuries, Bristol Rovers will also be without striker Josh Coburn for Saturday's FA Cup first-round tie against Rochdale at the Mem.
Middlesbrough, the 19-year-old loanee's parent club, have instructed the Gas not to play him in the FA Cup so he is eligible to feature for them later in the competition if they exercise their option to recall him in January.
The striker has been impressive since making his Rovers debut last month, scoring three goals and adding an assist in his six appearances so far. Coburn's unavailability is not ideal for Barton, who has several players out injured including strikers Ryan Loft and John Marquis, and Coburn likely would have started against the League Two sider if he were allowed.
"We’ve got Josh Coburn cup-tied," Barton revealed at Thursday's pre-match press conference. "Middlesbrough have decided to hold on to Josh. It’s not an injury, but we’ll be one option lighter, but he should be even fitter for the league game the following Saturday.
"We were the same when I was at Fleetwood. If we loaned players out, we wouldn’t let them play in FA Cup just in case we need them.
"Some lads, you know you’re not going to use, but Michael Carrick has gone in as manager and there is no benefit for them (in Coburn playing for Rovers in the FA Cup).
"Everton and Burnley for Lewis Gibson and Bobby Thomas have said the lads could do with the experience of playing and Middlesbrough don’t want Josh cup-tied because if they recall him in January and Middlesbrough are in the third or fourth round, they could obviously utilise him.
"Disappointing as Josh wants to play football and he’s been really good this week, but I also totally understand it."
Barton's options in attack may be depleted, but Saturday could be the first time Scott Sinclair plays from the start since returning to the club last month. The 33-year-old has made three substitute appearances since re-signing for his boyhood club, and the manager believes he is ready to make an impact in the starting XI.
"We’ve had to manage him in because he came in behind the eight-ball in terms of he was training with Chelsea’s under-23s," Barton said. "In the earlier part of the season, you could use the cup competition to get him those minutes, but his little cameos have tuned him up.
"His cameo on Saturday showed, whether we had a league game this Saturday or a cup game, he is ready to play from the off. On Saturday, he’s definitely in consideration to start the game."
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