ADY Pennock has a big hole to fill in the Barrow AFC defence as they await the visit of Tranmere Rovers tomorrow.

With Jimmy Dunne back at Burnley, having been a regular starter for the first five months of the season, Pennock must choose who will partner Moussa Diarra at the back (3pm kick-off).

Dunne has returned to parent club Burnley after a successful loan spell where he made a fine impression over the course of 23 matches, scoring two goals in that time, in the wins at Eastleigh and Woking.

Barrow had been keen on keeping the 20-year-old Irishman, but he was yesterday unveiled as a loan signing by League Two Accrington Stanley.

Thierry Audel, Paul Bignot and Tony Diagne are all available to fill the void – Audel having appeared on the bench against both Solihull and Wrexham after a long spell out with a broken arm. There is also the option to switch back to playing with three in the centre of defence, a tactic used most recently at home with Diarra, Bignot and the now-departed Liam Hughes playing against Macclesfield in November, while Pennock is busy looking to bring in new blood this month.

“Now that Jimmy is definitely gone, Ady is looking for a replacement at the centre-back position and at other players as well, just to get the numbers back up to the 20/21 level,” said AFC managing director Andrew Casson.

Barrow yesterday confirmed that Calum Macdonald, who has been playing in a full-back role, will be with them for the rest of the month, on loan from Derby County.

“Derby have gone for the month rather than until the end of the season so they can continue to monitor the situation,” said Casson. “We’re still hopeful it will be one of those where he will be with us until the end.”

On the wing, David Fitzpatrick has received the results of a recent scan on his troublesome knee – which has restricted him to a single start and one substitute appearance this term.

They have revealed no issues, and he will now work on building up his match fitness once more.

“He had a scan and everything is fine,” said Pennock, who saw Fitzpatrick in action for the first time when he came off the bench in the FA Trophy win at Nuneaton Town.

“He’s still got to rest up for a couple of weeks though, then hopefully he will be in full training after a couple of weeks.

"We’ve got to see how he is after those couple of weeks and we will assess him after that. Hopefully, he will be able to fully train and have no reaction.”