BARNSLEY manager Markus Schopp has labelled Cherries as “a great team with a lot of quality in every part of the squad,” ahead of tomorrow's contest.

The two sides meet in the Championship with Cherries still unbeaten, while the Tykes have found it more difficult to adjust to life under a new coach after Valerian Ismael’s West Brom departure.

They sit 14th with one win and three draws in the opening five fixtures – their victory coming by way of a 1-0 over Coventry City back in mid-August.

Barnsley came out on top during the most recent meeting, though, after a dramatic 3-2 win at Vitality Stadium in March, on their way to reaching the second division’s play-offs.

Speaking ahead of the match, 47-year-old Schopp said: “It’s a great team with a lot of quality in every part of the squad, they haven’t lost a game.

“But we are looking forward to it. We want to take on the best teams. We are excited by the challenge.

Bournemouth Echo: Defender Liam Kitching has received a three-match ban for violent conduct (Pic: PA)Defender Liam Kitching has received a three-match ban for violent conduct (Pic: PA)

“The players remember last season and know what they are capable of. It won’t be an easy game for us, but history shows they are more than ready to go and win this type of game again.”

Schopp was appointed this summer from Austrian Bundesliga side TSV Hartberg after managing them to seventh in the division during the 2020-21 season, but he’d actually got them to qualify for the Europa League for the first-ever time the campaign before.

They had only reached the first division for the first time in their history in 2018.

Schopp also offered an update on his squad and play availability, revealing that Jordan Williams and Mads Anderson are out through injury, while Liam Kitching is serving a three-game ban.

Highly-rated Polish defender Michał Helik has returned from international duty, with Schopp adding: “We’ll have to see how he is feeling too ahead of this weekend.”

He continued: “We have more options now, more flexibility, we have more chances to react with the squad we’ve now got.

“We have more solutions. It’s about making the most of the tools we have, starting Saturday.”