PLYMOUTH Argyle's 18-year-old striker Joe Mason is getting close to a first team call-up, manager Paul Sturrock has admitted.

Sturrock is considering Mason as a possible replacement for top scorer Jamie Mackie, who is suspended for the visit of Barnsley to Home Park on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland under-19 international has yet to make his senior debut for the Pilgrims.

But he was an unused substitute when Argyle won 1-0 away to Middlesbrough last month, and has caught the eye of Sturrock in recent training sessions.

Sturrock will not be short of attacking options for the game against Barnsley, despite the absence for one match of Mackie.

He can choose from Ashley Barnes, Rory Fallon, Alan Gow and Cillian Sheridan, as well as Mason.

Sturrock said: "The boy Mason has been very exciting in training lately.

"It would be a huge leap of faith to pick him, but I have done it before. It's something to really think about.

"We have got a lot of options. It's just getting it right on the day."

Mason has scored five goals in as many matches for Argyle reserves in the Totesport.com Combination this season.

He also netted twice for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a 5-0 win away to San Marino earlier this month.

Mackie picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Argyle's 1-0 defeat at Leicester City on Saturday.

He was booked by referee Danny McDermid for diving, after a challenge on him from defender Wayne Brown inside the penalty area.

Sturrock said: "I was a bit disappointed with it (the yellow card) because some refs would have given a penalty.

"And the boy (Brown) made comment to a couple of our players that there was definitely contact.

"The problem was that when Jamie went down he did make it look dramatic. I think that's what cost us dear."

Mackie must now serve an automatic one-match suspension.

He will be available again for the clash against Sheffield United at Home Park on December 5.

Meanwhile, defender Chris Barker is closing in on a return to fitness after a long-term injury.

Barker suffered a torn calf muscle in the pre-season friendly at home to Scottish Premier League club Hearts in July and has been sidelined ever since.

But Sturrock is optimistic the 29-yeard-old will soon be back in competitive action.

The Pilgrims' boss said: "We are stepping Barks up. We are really going to push him now to try to get him back into the fold."

Barker's return to fitness would be a timely one for Argyle.

The loan deals for defenders David Gray and Shane Lowry end after the home game against Coventry City on December 19.

And even though Argyle are expected to try to extend those deals, that cannot be done until the transfer window opens on January 1.

So Sturrock will be without both of those players for the visit to Cardiff City on Boxing Day and the home game against Reading on December 28.

He said: "The loan scenario is going to be biting into us in late December, before the window opens again, so we are going to need Barks.

"He's going to be quite important to us."

Then, in January, defender Reda Johnson will be away for much of the month, playing for Benin in the African Cup of Nations.

Cardiff City loanee Darcy Blake cannot play for Argyle against his parent club on Boxing Day.

But his loan spell does not end until after the visit of Reading to Home Park.

LUKE SUMMERFIELD'S loan spell at League One side Leyton Orient has been extended for a third and final month.

The 21-year-old central midfielder will now remain at Brisbane Road until December 22 – taking his time at the club to the maximum 93-day period for emergency loans.

Summerfield has played 11 games for the O's since arriving at the end of September, starting every league game during that time.

His extended loan spell will take in a further four fixtures, with his final game scheduled to be at Walsall on December 19.

THE FA Cup third round draw takes place on Sunday and will be televised live on ITV1 at 3.55pm.

Argyle will be ball number 28, while the Pilgrims' opponents at the third round stage last season, Arsenal, are number one.