PAUL Crarey is cautiously optimistic Danny Morrow will be able to make a swift return to action for Barrow Raiders after spending time on the sidelines due to surgery.

The back row has recently undergone an operation on his shoulder and has yet to feature for the Raiders in the 2018 Betfred Championship season, with Dan Toal taking his place in the starting line-up.

Barrow head coach Crarey has been impressed with the elder of the Toal brothers' displays, but is eager to see Morrow available again and he could even feature away to Batley Bulldogs this Sunday.

"Danny Morrow has had a shoulder reconstruction and we're just holding him back until the grounds firm up, but depending on how Dan Toal goes this week we might pull him back in for the game at Batley," said Crarey.

"We're pretty strong and I hope Danny isn't gone for a long time because he has been a magnificent player for us, but Dan Toal is a good player for us.

"These players have got a big future for us at this club and it's a slow process to get them in and get them accustomed, and then eventually they become regular players here.

"We're happy with the way things are going and how we've managed the club from the bottom up, and it just shows against Leigh that we've come a million miles."

Former Walney Central man Morrow and Ulverstonian Toal are just two of the players from amateur sides in the area the Raiders have brought through in recent years.

Crarey wants to continue that trend by giving talented amateur players in Barrow and beyond the chance to break into the professional game, although opportunities are likely to be limited in the Championship this year.

As a result, back row prospect Matty While has joined League One side Whitehaven on loan for a month, while promising half-back Ryan Johnston has returned to old amateur side Dalton.

Johnston was the first player to graduate from the Furness Raiders under-19s team to the professional ranks and made four appearances for Barrow in 2017.

But work commitments mean he is unable to follow While out on loan to get games, so Crarey is happy for Johnston to return to Kelland Park and continue to train with the Raiders until an opportunity arises.

"What we've said to Ryan is we'll let him go back, but if we get an injury then he'll sign up," said Crarey. "It's the only way we can do it without a reserve system.

"We could probably send Ryan out on loan and a couple of clubs have asked about him, but he doesn't want to do that.

"We're not going to make him get in a car and travel, and he's happy to play for his amateur club and so he should be."

Crarey's long-term plan is for the Raiders to bring back their reserve team and he hopes establishing themselves in the Championship will allow the club to do that.

"We desperately need a reserves here and if we have a good year in the Championship, we might be able to get one and bring all of these kids back in," said Crarey.

"There are a lot of good kids in the area who are 19 or 20-year-old and we need a pathway for them.

"We've got the under-19s competition, but we need an open-age competition alongside it and at a good level."