MOUSSA Diarra 'would play tomorrow' if given the chance, as he make a speedy recovery from a hamstring injury.

Barrow AFC's legion of wounded warriors are working their way back to fitness, with the club have been boosted by the progress being made by both Diarra and Dave Nieskens.

There is the potential the former will be back in a matter of weeks and the latter – who it had been feared had seen his season ended by a knee problem – before Christmas.

Full-back Dan Jones – one of several players to be hit by a sickness bug, as he recovers from a knee problem – is hoped to be back in a Bluebirds shirt next week; either for the trip to Chester on Tuesday, or for the home match against Aldershot four days later.

He is the closest to a return but caretaker boss Neill Hornby, installed on Tuesday following the sacking of Micky Moore, was particularly upbeat on central defender Diarra – saying he would play this weekend if it was up to the player himself.

Talking over the injuries, he said: “Dan has started running, but he's pretty doubtful for Tuesday. Hopefully he will be okay for Aldershot.

“He's started running, but he has been felling a bit unwell. It's just a case of seeing if there is any reaction to the running. He's very doubtful for Tuesday, but hopeful for a week on Saturday.

“He's been feeling a bit sickly. There are a couple of lads who have had a bit of sickness and vomiting, but it's nothing to worry about. Jordan White wasn't feeling well last night, but he is 110 per cent now – that's how quickly it comes and goes.

“With Moussa, we're just waiting on the final scan, but he will be training on Monday. He will be starting his rehab, and we will just build it up and see how we get on.

“He feels fine, if it was up to him, he would be playing on Saturday. We're just waiting for that final scan, and he will start with Matt (Butterfield), the physio, on Monday, then do some more at the game on Tuesday if there is no reaction, do some more running, and we will build him up. Hopefully he will be ready very soon.

“We will go by Matt and how his hamstring feels. I'm hopeful he will be back for the game after Aldershot, because there is a two-week gap.

“I can't see why he shouldn't be fit for that, because it wasn't a bad tear. If there is no reaction then he will be available. He will have had two solid weeks of training to build him up.”

Nieskens' recovery time-frame has been boosted by the knowledge he has not damaged his ACL (anterior cruciate ligaments), but rather the meniscus of the knee.

That means a potentially season-ending problem should now be resolved before the end of the year, with the potential for a return to training next month.

“With Dave, you're guided by the medical staff, and knee injuries are such a complex part of the body,” Hornby added. “You're guided by the player as well, so if he feels fine in three, four, five weeks – it might take longer – then we go from there. The blessing is that it's not the ACL.”

Thierry Audel continues to progress with his broken arm, with Hornby set to check on league rules regarding playing while wearing a cast once the break is healed, while David Fitzpatrick is set to undergo surgery in the next few days.

The winger has a minor knee ailment, and Hornby added: “With Fitzy, you're looking at about a month. He is due to have minor surgery in the next few days, but it's a very minor cartilage operation.”