NEW defenders Jordon Thompson and Paul Bignot have impressed Barrow AFC boss Micky Moore.

The duo arrived at Holker Street last week as Moore looked for depth following injuries to Dave Nieskens (knee) and Thierry Audel (broken arm).

Moore also expects to add a centre half to the ranks before tomorrow’s trip to Sutton United (3pm kick-off) with Moussa Diarra and Jack Barthram added to the defensive casualty list.

Both Thompson and Bignot featured in the 1-1 draw against Torquay United, with Coventry City teenager Thompson – who is on an initial one-month youth loan – starting, and Bignot coming off the bench.

“We have watched Jordon over a period of time, myself and Paul Ogden, highlighted him, and I’m very grateful to Coventry that they have allowed him to come,” Moore said. “They believe that, for his football development, this is the right place for him to come out on loan.

“I think you saw in his first game that he has a lot of potential, and he did really well for us.

“It’s great credit to him as a person, as well as a footballer, to take on board what we wanted to do and what we are trying to do. I think he will be a good addition to us, and hopefully we have him for a long time.”

Bignot, who is on non-contract terms, and whose brother Marcus took the vacant manager’s role at Chester in midweek, just before Moore was appointed as permanent AFC boss, came off the bench for Jack Barthram against Torquay.

He has been without a permanent club since leaving League Two Newport County at the end of last season, and Moore admitted he still wanted to be back in the Football League.

“Paul has had opportunities,” said Moore.

“He wanted to get back into the Football League, and if you look at the majority of his career, it has been in the Football League.

“He wanted to get back into the Football League, he had opportunities to go into this level of football, but they weren’t right for him.

“His fitness levels probably aren’t where we would like them to be, hence why we signed him as a utility player – and having Marcus here as well helped persuade him to come in.

“I think you saw he will be a good addition for us, but he might be needed to actually start a game now, rather than being the utility player he was signed for.”

While Bignot and Thompson both impressed on debut against Torquay United last week, full-back Barthram was one of three players to suffer hamstring injuries.

Moussa Diarra and Adi Yussuf were the other two, and they will spend longer on the sidelines – approximately 10 weeks and four weeks respectively.