BARROW AFC hope to bring back loanee Calum Macdonald before the weekend, after he returned to Championship Derby County.

Macdonald's two-month spell at Holker Street came to an end last week, with the young defender or midfielder having featured in 10 straight matches since his arrival at the end of November.

He was not part of the AFC squad which made the long trip to Torquay United last weekend – where the bottom-of-the-table Gulls won 3-1 – but the Bluebirds are optimistic he will be for the visit of Hartlepool United to South Cumbria on Saturday.

“He's gone back, for now, but we are working with Derby to try to get him back,” said Barrow managing director Andrew Casson.

“I had a conversation with Ady (Pennock, the AFC manager) this morning about trying to get the paperwork and everything done so he will be back for this weekend.

“They are in training now, but hopefully we will know if they are going to let him come back in the next 12 to 24 hours.”

Macdonald featured on the left side of defence during his initial spell with Barrow, and scored a vital goal in the 3-3 National League draw at Wrexham on New Year's Day.

His last match was the 2-0 FA Trophy defeat against Brackley Town on January 16, with two subsequent postponements in the league robbing the 20-year-old Rams player of more game-time.

Barrow have three other loanees currently at the club – winger Chris Humphrey (from Bury), forward Luke James (from Forest Green Rovers) and defender Ollie Cook (from Southampton), who made his debut at Torquay – but are keen to regain Macdonald, with Casson adding: “He's played well for a young loan.”

Barrow lost loan defender Jimmy Dunne at the start of the month, when he returned to parent club Burnley after a successful five-month spell, and subsequently went to League Two Accrington Stanley, while winger Lewis Walters saw a move from Nottingham Forest cut short by injury.

Goalkeeper Steve Arnold joined last month on an 18-month contract, while both Stuart Moore and Adi Yussuf departed Holker Street, the latter joining National League rivals Solihull Moors and scoring a brace on his debut.