Neal Bishop, recently appointed Barnet skipper, looks to have escaped a long lay-off with injury after a heavy tackle at Port Vale angered several players and required lengthy treatment from physiotherapist Mark Stein on the field.

The 27-year-old Bishop, ever-present in Barnet's 22 games this season, has had a scan on his right knee medial ligaments and seen a consultant.

The scan shows that there is no cartilage problem, which could rule a player out for six weeks, but bone bruising. Bishop will be seeing the consultant again to check his progress.

The match referee at Vale Park called for a stretcher to carry Bishop off but, after a long hold-up for treatment, the skipper played on.

Bone bruising in the right foot is the result of a second scan on 20-year-old Albert Adomah, like Bishop an ever-present this season.

The Bees will be training on Saturday but, without a game this weekend following their exit from The FA Cup at Rochdale, Mark Stein is hoping that an extra week's rest and treatment could have Bishop and Adomah available for the important away game against bottom club Luton Town.


Dennis Signy