JACOB Blyth is close to showing everyone at Barrow AFC how good a player he is, according to Ian Evatt.

The 26-year-old striker was Evatt’s first signing during the summer, following an injury-hit spell in Scotland with Motherwell, but he suffered a major injury setback during Barrow’s first pre-season game.

Half an hour into the game against Furness Select in July, Blyth dislocated a shoulder after colliding with an advertising hoarding and wall, with the match eventually abandoned.

After missing the rest of pre-season, Blyth had to play catch-up, but he made his fourth substitute appearance for the club by playing the final ten minutes of last Saturday’s victory over Maidenhead.

Evatt said: “I’m really pleased with him and he’s showing more and more now that he’s getting there.

“It wasn’t ideal, the injury he had, because he missed pre-season, but we’re building him up slowly and he’s starting to show signs of the player I know he can be.

“It’s important that we manage it correctly and I’m sure, sooner rather than later, we’ll see him starting a game. Callum [Walters], the physio, has done a great job with him.”

Evatt is expected to name almost the same squad as last weekend for the match against Gateshead, with defender Dan Jones set to recover from a kick to the calf.