PAUL Cox promised much more to come from new striker Byron Harrison after he made his Barrow debut less than 24 hours after signing a contract at Holker Street.

Harrison started up front for the Bluebirds alongside goal-scorer Ross Hannah in the 1-0 win over Carlisle United on Saturday.

His appearance came after he arrived in town after 11pm the night before to join up with his new club.

The former Chesterfield and Cheltenham Town front-man won the first-half penalty which Hannah converted to give AFC their victory over Carlisle, and Cox was impressed with what he saw.

“There is loads to come from Byron,” said Cox of a man who had not played in pre-season before his 55-minute stint on Saturday. “I think you have seen just 50 per cent of what the lad can do.

“On first meeting the lad, I knew there was a connection there. Today, I watched his movement, I watched his positional sense, the way he played the game, I watched the almost telepathic way he linked up with Ross Hannah.

“I could tell in the last 10 minutes of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half that he was running on empty, but he was honest – I wanted to bring him off at half-time, but he wanted to get another 10 minutes into his legs.

“I think he will go home today as a satisfied player, because he is so far behind the others in terms of conditioning that he deserves a pat on the back for being quite brave and wanting to start the game.”

He added of his new acquisition – who was joined in the side on Saturday by triallist front-man Aaron O’Connor, a former Newport County and Forest Green Rovers striker: “I went to meet the lad the other day. We had done a lot of due diligence on the player, we had heard some good things and some bad things – like you do with every player. I had made my mind up within 15 minutes of meeting the lad that I wanted to sign him.

“He’s just a lovable kid. I think he’s a little bit angry over what has happened in the last 18 months of his career and he’s got an unbelievable desire to put things right.

“I thought I connected with him straightaway. I gave him the option today just to put him on for 20 minutes at the end, but he wanted to come in and play for as long as he could.

“He’s a fantastic person, a fantastic signing for the football club and I think the kid is only going to get better.”

Cox confirmed that he was interested in watching O’Connor again in tomorrow’s match against Accrington Stanley as he seeks to add to his forwards options – with Richie Bennett the third front-man alongside Hannah and Harrison.

The manager said: “Aaron is Aaron. I have known him since he was a young lad. He’s not a young boy now, I’ve watched his career and admired his career.

“The one where he hit the post is typical Aaron O’Connor – you give him a sniff of goal and he will usually hit the target.

“We will monitor him. We might have a look at him again on Tuesday to see what he’s about. At this level of football, our level of football, he is a quality footballer and you would never say never.

“We’re looking for another (striker). We’re looking for something that we haven’t got. I told the supporters that I want as much pressure putting on individuals as I can this year, for them to perform and be consistent in what we ask them to do.

“If that means that somebody is breathing down your neck on the touchline, sat on the bench, or even in the stand, then that is a good kind of pressure to have.”