Dan Jones believes the influence of manager Ian Evatt has allowed him to develop as a player with Barrow AFC during a season where he has become more and more assured as a centre-back.

Jones was one of the few players inherited by Evatt when he took charge last summer and, after a few teething troubles earlier in the campaign, he has become one of the first names on the team sheet.

His good form earned him a second England C cap on Tuesday night when he was surprisingly fielded at left-back for the first time in many months by coach Paul Fairclough in their match against Wales C, at Salford.

With the Bluebirds currently going through an injury crisis, the 24-year-old decided not to risk making an ankle knock picked up early in the second half worse and was substituted to make sure he was available for the season’s run-in.

Jones said: “I don’t want to be missing more than I need to. I could have carried on, but it’s one of them where you don’t want to risk anything else happening.

“We’ve only got seven games left in the season and it’s a big seven games, so although I’d have loved to have played longer, I want to be fit and healthy going into this big run-in.”

When asked about Evatt’s influence on his game, Jones said: “It’s just that confidence he gives you. I know that if I make mistakes, he’s not going to have a go at me, but if I don’t do it in the right way, then he will.

“I must have given away a few goals away this year, but he’s not said anything. He’s just said that I’m doing the right things, just do it better.”

If he has fully recovered, Jones will be part of a back three for Barrow’s match against Harrogate Town tomorrow at Holker Street that will also include Jason Taylor.

Jones is used to having Taylor in front of him in centre midfield, but the amount of defensive injuries has forced Evatt to move the influential 32-year-old further back, for the time being.

Jones said: “I’ve enjoyed playing with him – he talks a lot and that’s good. He’s always talking, he never shuts up even if you ask him to, but I think sometimes you need that.

“You need someone to organise and I think his talking makes up for his lack of pace, which I help him out with.”

Jones is a player Evatt is keen to keep hold of at the end of the season, as he tries to keep the core of a squad he had to build almost from scratch last summer together for the following campaign.

“It suits me at the minute,” Jones said, adding: “I’m happy where I am, but obviously you never rule anything out in this game.

“If something does come along, I’d have to have a hard think about it and if Barrow want me then it’s something to think about.”