Last updated at 14:31, Friday, 27 November 2009

BARROW AFC have swooped to sign three new players ahead of tomorrow’s massive FA Cup second round tie at Oxford Utd (kick-off 3pm).

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

The triple boost comes in the shape of 32-year-old Liverpudlian striker Gregg Blundell, speedy winger Marc Goodfellow and striker/attacking midfielder Gavin Rothery.

All three were signed before the close of yesterday’s loan transfer window and are eligible to play in the FA Cup.

Blundell – whose former clubs include Doncaster Rovers and Darlington – arrives on a loan deal from Chester City with a view to a permanent move on January 1.

The experienced striker is likely to start up front at the Kassam Stadium. Whether he will be partnered in attack by Jason Walker remains to be seen. The 10-goal top scorer has a hamstring injury and his chances of playing were last night described as “touch and go” by AFC joint-manager Dave Bayliss.

Fellow striker Jordan Bowery and left winger Craig Nelthorpe are both cup-tied.

If Walker doesn’t make it, loan recruit Rothery could possibly play in a supporting role just behind Blundell.

Rothery has joined the Bluebirds in a deal which runs until January 5. The 22-year-old signed a one-year-deal at Brunton Park during the summer, but has made just six first-team appearances.

Rothery is a product of the Leeds United academy and was once named in an England under-19 squad alongside the likes of Theo Walcott, Micah Richards and Mark Noble.

Barrow’s third new signing, Goodfellow, has joined on a one-month loan deal until January 5, from League Two outfit Burton Albion. The 28-year-old – whose former clubs include Bristol City, Swansea and Grimsby – can play wide on both flanks.

Tomorrow will be the first time Barrow and Oxford have ever met in a cup competition.

Their last meeting in the league was just six days ago at the Kassam Stadium when the Blue Square Premier table-toppers – unbeaten at home all season – won 1-0 through a James Constable penalty. At stake is £27,000 in FA prize money and a place in the third round when Premier League like giants like Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool enter the fray.

Skipper Paul Jones – who was part of the AFC team that shocked League Two Brentford at this stage of last year’s FA Cup – returns from suspension.

Bayliss – who confirmed that “a couple” of players will be leaving the club, possibly in loan deals, after tomorrow’s game – said: “Oxford are a good side and are top of the table, though there wasn’t much in the game last Saturday.

“But we’re not going to go there and be quivering in our boots. We’ll go and respect them for what they’ve done, but we’ve got to have belief in what we’ve got ourselves.

“We’ve got nothing to lose.”

l Rochdale striker Jon Shaw – who spent the last three months on loan at Barrow – has joined Blue Square Premier rivals Gateshead on loan until early January and is likely to face the Bluebirds in the festive double-header.

BARROW (from): Tomlinson, Spender, Jelleyman, Jones, Pearson, Goodfellow, Bond, Hulbert, Rutherford, Walker, Blundell, Deasy, Bolland, Boyd, Logan, Kamara, Rothery, Sheridan, Bayliss.

First published at 12:56, Friday, 27 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk