BARROW AFC have completed the loan signing of Derby County teenage Calum Macdonald.

The 19-year-old left-back has joined on the Bluebirds on a youth loan until February.

AFC and the Rams agreed a deal by Tuesday, with the player signing on the bottom line late on Thursday evening.

Manager Ady Pennock has seen the youngster play several times in the past few years, and knows he is held in high regard by Derby.

“I've seen Calum play four or five times, and he is someone I was after for a good while,” said the Barrow boss.

“They really do like him a lot at Derby. He's just signed a new four-year deal there, and that's not something you normally see with young lads.

“I've known him for a while. I haven't seen him play since I have been here, but before I got here I had seen him a few times, and he's a good player, a great prospect.

“He's a quiet lad off the pitch, but on it he just comes to life.

“He's got a very good left foot, he's aggressive, he's a fit boy, and he gives us options as well. He has played centre-half and he has played centre mid as well, and where we have got a small squad, he will be invaluable for us.”

Macdonald was Derby's Under-23s player-of-the-year last season, his first as a professional, as he played every game in their Premier League Two campaign.

The loan deal will run until February 1, 2018, and the Scotland Under-21s international will be eligible to play at FC Halifax Town on Saturday and in the FA Trophy - with Barrow travelling to Nuneaton Town in the first round of the competition on Saturday, December 16.

With Dan Jones, Thierry Audel and Dave Nieskens all at various stages of their recoveries from injury, and David Fitzpatrick only just back in the match-day squad last week, Pennock felt bringing in a player as adaptable as Macdonald was key.

He added: “With Dan, Fitz, Thierry, we have got to be sensible. There's no point just putting them back in after three or four training sessions.

“We'll weight it up today and tomorrow, but we have to be sensible with these injured players. With Calum's availability, it was a no-brainer.”

Macdonald is the third loan signing on the books at Barrow, along with Burnley's Jimmy Dunne and Grimsby Town's Chris Clements. Coventry City's Jordon Thompson returned to his parent club a month ago.

Pennock had watched another player in action on Monday afternoon, with that man still a target and a second potential signing still in the works.

“I went to a game on Monday, but that was for a different player,” added Pennock. “He might still be coming in.”