UK Football

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Luke Steele is free to play in Barnsley's FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff City after the club secured him on loan from West Bromwich Albion for the remainder of the season.

Steele starred in Barnsley's shock defeats of Liverpool and Chelsea in the previous two rounds while on loan from fellow Championship (second division) club Albion, but that deal expired on Monday.

Barnsley confirmed on Thursday that they had reached agreement with Albion over re-signing Steele on loan with the deal becoming permanent in July. They said they were still waiting for official ratification from the FA.

However, FA rules mean that the 23-year-old will not be able to play in the final should Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion, who face Premier League Portsmouth, both win their semi-finals.

Steele, formerly on Manchester United's books, became an instant hero for Barnsley with a superb display in their 2-1 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield in the fifth round, his debut for the club.

A dispute about who was paying his wages threatened to scupper his hopes of facing Cardiff, also from the Championship, at Wembley but that has been resolved.

"We've always been happy for Luke to go back to Barnsley and play in the semi-final, providing the deal was right for us," Albion chairman Jeremy Peace told West Brom's Web site (www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk).

This season's FA Cup has been notable for shocks. It is the first time since 1908 that only one team from the top flight reached the semi-finals.

The semi-finals take place on April 5 and 6 at Wembley.