TRIALLIST duo Euan Murray and Will De Havilland impressed Barrow AFC boss Paul Cox with their displays against Nottingham Forest.

The pair were two of three potential recruits to feature for the Bluebirds in the 0-0 draw at Holker Street, alongside substitute forward Emile Sinclair.

Full-back Murray – who also played in the matches at Airbus UK Broughton and Stockport County – and centre-half De Havilland – a former Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday youngster – each stood out in the Barrow defence for the first home friendly of pre-season.

Cox is looking for a pair of defenders to add to the four already on the books – Shaun Beeley, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra and Nick Wilmer-Anderton – and Murray and De Havilland have staked strong claims to be among his choices.

“Murray, for me, has been excellent,” said the Barrow boss of the 22-year-old former Stenhousemuir and Clyde defender. “He has come on at Stockport and he is a centre-half by trade, but he can play at right-back or left-back. Nick had picked up a little twinge from his injury last year and we chucked Murray in at left-back and he looked as though he had played there all his life for us. He’s someone we are looking at.

“Will De Havilland came in at centre-half and looked strong against a very powerful front unit from Forest today. Once again, we will have a sit down and talk to him.”

While talking to the triallist pair, Barrow are also close to a deal for a new striker to compete for a place with Ross Hannah and Richie Bennett, both of whom played well against Forest.

Cox has spoken with an experienced forward from the division several times, meeting him and his agent last week, and hopes to have the deal done on what he classes as a “marquee signing” early this week.

He added: “There might be some movement in terms of a centre-forward coming to the club. We’re very close to a signature on that and that’s where we need a little bit of competition now.

“Just having the two boys up there – as well as they have done – I just think they need some competition. Hopefully we will have somebody coming through the door.

“This will be, as I class it, a marquee signing. Somebody who has played at this level, scored goals at this level and above and something that is different to what we have got.”

Anderton and Lindon Meikle both missed Saturday’s match with slight injuries, with Cox not wanting to risk any longer-term fitness issues in pre-season.

Those were the only two of the close-season recruits not to feature, with Liam Hughes and Paul Turnbull in midfield joining those in attack and defence on the field.

Cox was happy with the run-out for his team, and said: “It was a lively game against a Nottingham Forest side who you can tell have good youth. There were some good players out there and it was a good run out for us again. It tested us in a different way, asked different questions of us and the pleasing parts are that it was another clean sheet and we have learnt a little more about ourselves.

“I think the one things the fans will look at is that there was a great work ethic among the boys. There are little things we can improve on – we’re probably in only our second full game in pre-season.

“We created some good chances today, but I think we’re just lacking that little bit of sharpness now, especially in the last third. That will come, the boys are just showing a tremendous attitude and we’re looking forward to the season.”