Luke Steele breathed a sigh of relief after the FA Cup semi-final draw but the Barnsley goalkeeper could still miss the Final. Steele is not eligible to play in the competition against West Bromwich Albion because he is on loan from the Midlands club and would miss the match at Wembley in May should both teams progress. West Brom were drawn against Portsmouth in the other semi-final, with Barnsley paired with Cardiff City for the matches on the weekend of April 5 and 6.

Steele is hoping this week to complete a loan move to Oakwell until the end of the season. “I was a little bit nervous beforehand but the draw was perfect and I’m really looking forward to it,” Steele said. “I thought, knowing my luck this season prior to coming here, it’s going to go against me, but it didn’t and I’m so happy. I’ve just got to forget about what happens now and, hopefully, it won’t be the case that both teams will meet in the final.” Signed by Manchester United from Peterborough United for £500,000 as a teenager, Steele is 23 but has played only 53 first-team games, mostly for Coventry City. He was third choice at West Brom and joined Barnsley on a month’s “emergency loan” in February because one goalkeeper was injured and another cup-tied. His outstanding display against Liverpool in the fifth round was his first appearance since December and only his third in the past 13 months.

Simon Davey, the Barnsley manager, admitted that the draw had been on the mind of Steele. “It is a relief for Luke because, obviously, Luke now has got an opportunity to play in the semi-final, which is what he wanted to do and it’s great for the club,” Davey said.

Barnsley will be allocated about 30,000 tickets for the semi-final, priced from £25 to £55. The club have said that preference in the allocation will be given to supporters attending the Coca-Cola Championship match against Ipswich Town tonight.

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