CHRIS Barker has joined the growing list of injured defenders at Argyle.

A tight hamstring sustained in the 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town leaves head coach Paul Mariner sweating on international clearance for Zimbabwean Onismor Bhasera.

Kári Árnason, Richard Eckersley, Gary Sawyer and David McNamee are all unavailable and Mariner is desperate for more cover ahead of the final run-in.

"Barker's gone down tonight with a hammy," said Mariner. "It tightened and we saw him immediately, and we were alerted to it.

"He then had to sprint down the channel and we thought he was going to blow it, but he's a tough kid.

"Apparently, he [Bhasera] is picking up his passport and international papers tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

"He would [be the answer to our prayers] but he is in a certain part of the world where they don't exactly rush."