FRESH faces in the Barrow AFC squad can help spur the rest of the team on as they look to push away from the relegation zone.

Barrow have brought in three new signings since their last home game against Brackley Town in the FA Trophy last month.

Goalkeeper Steve Arnold (on an 18-month contract), forward Luke James (on loan from Forest Green Rovers) and defender Ollie Cook (on loan from Southampton) have all joined the club.

All three made their debuts in the 3-1 National League defeat at Torquay last weekend, with James winning the penalty that led to Byron Harrison scoring the Bluebirds goal, and Arnold making a number of good saves.

Winger or forward Harry Panayiotou has been impressed with what he has seen from the new arrivals so far.

He feels their presence will help to give the rest of the squad a push, knowing they have to perform or can be replaced.

“I think Luke showed what he was about the other day,” said Panayiotou. “He's very sharp, very nippy, and he won the penalty. On another day, that wins you the game.

“(Cook)'s a strong addition, he wants to learn, he's young. That's what we need, somebody who wants to come to learn and play with us. We've got that right now, which is good.”

He added: “It's better for competition. People like Chris Humphrey (who joined on loan from Bury until the end of the season in early January), we get on well.

“He's a winger, so you need to up your game. We're not getting the best results, and nobody's position is safe in this team. That's how it should be and that's what we should be taking into the games, thinking 'I don't want to lose my spot, I want to perform better today'. If you don't perform better, then you expect not to be in the team the next week.

“The team have got a great morale; everyone gets on, there's no problems in the team, even with the new lads who have come in, everyone gets on. That's the good thing about us.”