BARROW AFC boss Paul Cox is confident the goals will come from his front-line.

The Bluebirds have netted just once in 180 minutes of National League action so far this season, with full-back Dan Jones scoring in the 2-1 defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge last weekend.

Jordan White and Adi Yussuf have started both that game and the 0-0 draw against FC Halifax Town in midweek, but have yet to find the back of the net.

Dan Cockerline – twice – and Harry Panayiotou have also come off the bench and created chances, but thus far the strike line has drawn a blank.

But Cox is positive that they have it in them to start firing in the goals, believing Yussuf just needs a little more sharpness after only arriving at Holker Street a week before the season started, and White need only 'get the monkey off his back' to spark him into scoring form.

With last season's top-scorer Byron Harrison also waiting in the wings and set to return to the fold by the end of the month following an ankle operation, Cox believes the goals will inevitably come.

“We've got a Rolls-Royce signing in Byron Harrison waiting to come in,” said Cox. “I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but he would probably walk into any team at this level of football.

“I think if you look at goals, there were about 44 goals between the front two (Harrison and Richie Bennett, who joined Carlisle United last month) last year we are missing, then about 15 or so goals from Jordan Williams. To replace them instantly was always going to be tough.

“We've got Adi Yussuf, who I think will score a hat-full of goals the stronger and the sharper he becomes, and he will have more understanding of what we are. There is Byron Harrison added to that and Dan Cockerline, who looks very sharp.

“Jordan White needs a goal to get the monkey off his back, but I'm sure we will score goals.”

Cox highlighted the need to be a bit more clever and sophisticated in the final third after Tuesday's stalemate in order for the ball to find the back of the net.

He added: “I was more impressed on Tuesday night with our endeavour, our ability to learn from that bad first half on Saturday. I think our territorial advantage in the first half probably deserved a goal, but you talk about luck and sometimes you have to make luck and be a bit more sophisticated.

“There were things I knew at this stage of the season that we would be asking questions of, but I think we've learnt a lot over the two games.

“Sometimes the players have taken what I have said literally. What I mean by that is we probably had about 20 balls into the box from long throws and free-kicks. Sometimes it was crying out for a little bit of sophistication, a bit of a short throw, have it back, then put the ball in from a different angle.

“I think anyone can tell from the touchline that we are missing that little bit of a cutting edge. That will come with Adi getting fitter and stronger, it will come with games with the front two working together.

“We’ve got a marquee centre-forward sat on the touchlines at the minute, who any club at this level of football would be missing.”