Phil Brown has praised “unplayable” Aaron Amadi-Holloway for his big impact on Barrow AFC’s vital Easter improvement.

The frontman scored in both games against Forest Green Rovers and Salford City as the Bluebirds took major steps towards survival.

And AFC’s manager compared the physical demand put on line-leader Amadi-Holloway with the role Kevin Davies used to occupy when Brown was at Bolton Wanderers.

The Burton Albion loanee netted in Friday’s 4-0 win over Forest Green and Monday’s 2-2 draw at Salford ahead of this weekend’s home clash with Sutton United.

It is a game that could see Barrow over the safety line if results at Holker Street and elsewhere go their way.

“When I first came he [Amadi-Holloway] didn’t exude any kind of calmness of like he was playing with confidence,” said Brown on BBC Cumbria.

“Then all of a sudden he gets a goal against Forest Green Rovers and it comes.

“I’ve praised the big man [in the dressing room] and there’s a likeness to when I was at Bolton with Sam Allardyce and Neil McDonald when we had Kevin Davies up front.

“He got battered from pillar to post, exactly what Aaron’s getting.

“He was exceptional and deserved to be on the winning team. I’m not saying he wasn’t before but he’s committed to the cause because of the demands we’re putting on him.

“[At Salford] he was unplayable.”

Brown said John Rooney would be monitored carefully this week after a knock to his ankle in Monday’s draw.

He has also played a key role in the last two games with his set-piece deliveries.

Victory at the Dunes Hotel Stadium this weekend will see Barrow safe if second-bottom Oldham Athletic lose against Salford.

Brown says the appetite him team have shown over Easter will stand them in good stead when it comes to seeing the job through.

“To have four points from the two games is testament to the players,” he said. “It’s not down to me or Neil – when they’ve crossed the white line they’re wearing the shirt with pride, playing for the club and badge, and if they keep doing that for four games we’ll be ok.”

They will this weekend face a Sutton side aiming to further their promotion challenge, Matt Gray’s side sixth in the table.