BARROW AFC will continue to use a host of trialists for their remaining pre-season fixtures as they battle on with a small core squad.

With only 16 men signed on – including loanee Jimmy Dunne, striker Byron Harrison, who underwent ankle surgery yesterday, and Dan Cockerline, who is being nursed back to health from a knee operation – boss Paul Cox has limited options.

Full-back Dan Jones is likely to miss tomorrow's match against Nottingham Forest Under-23s at Holker Street after picking up a dead leg against Crewe on Tuesday, leaving the AFC manager with only 13 of his own players (3pm kick-off).

Cox has spoken of the need to address that situation quickly – especially as potential re-signings Andy Parry and Joel Dixon face up to three months more out of action following complications with their knee injuries – and will have to rely on trialists to field full squads in upcoming games.

That means the majority of those unnamed players who featured against Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday – one of whom is believed to have been offered a deal – will feature, as will the likes of goalkeeper Colin McCabe, who has played in the other pre-season matches.

“At this minute, we're going to need the trialists to come into the squad because of the low numbers,” said Cox, who scouted potential signings as a match in Wales on Tuesday, with assistant Micky Moore overseeing AFC. “We've only got 14 fit contracted players. If Dan Jones misses Saturday, then we're going to have 13.

“We're going to have to look at trialists to make sure both that we are looking at people to fill the squad, but also people who will allow us to plan accordingly in terms of the minutes the boys get.

“What we've got to do, if we do get any more knocks and bruises, looking at games going forward, is make sure we can fulfil the fixtures.

“The majority of the trialists we are sifting through will be involved. We've still got an awful lot of squad places to fill to get our quota. The majority of the trialists who played on Tuesday night will be involved again on Saturday.”

Among those who played on Tuesday were a former National League midfielder, who has played against the Bluebirds in the past and had injury issues last season, a young French midfielder and two overseas centre-halves.

As well as keeping an eye on them tomorrow, Cox will also be looking at opponents Forest, having brought Ryan Yates in on loan from the club last season.

He said: “I feel that I've got a good relationship with Gary Brazil and Jack Lester (the youth coaches) at Forest. I spoke to Jack the other day, and we know that any side of Gary and Jack's that is going to come up, is going to give us the test that we crave.

“Last year was great for our fitness and physicality and, as always with Nottingham Forest, they are always going to produce good players, as we saw with Ryan Yates.

“I'm hoping that this is a yearly thing with ourselves and Forest, and something we can develop a really good relationship going forward.”