Barrow AFC’s injury crisis will continue through tomorrow’s home game against Harrogate Town, with none of their nine hobbled players ready to return.

That number doesn’t even include long-term victim Nathan Waterston, who will be out until the start of next season with the cruciate ligament injury he suffered while on loan at Altrincham.

They continue to be especially short of numbers in defence, with centre-backs Josh Granite, Sam Hird and Brian Wilson, along with full-backs Connor Brown and Jack Barthram, all unavailable.

Midfielder Christian Sloan is another on the treatment table, while there is a shortage of strikers, after Jacob Blyth’s calf strain last week put him alongside Rhys Turner and Dior Angus on the sidelines.

All this means Jason Taylor and Josh Kay will have to fill in again at centre-back and right wing-back, respectively, while forward Nathan Reid is in line to make his first start for the club.

Manager Ian Evatt said: “We may have to play the under-21s, the way we’re going at the moment.

“Obviously, it’s not ideal, but none of them are serious injuries, so that’s what’s really a positive, but also a negative because they’re all probably two or three weeks away, every single one of them.

“So in a couple of weeks’ time, we could have a fully-fit squad, but unfortunately we haven’t got a couple of weeks now because there are only seven games left, so we need everyone available as quick as possible.”

Defender Dan Jones will have the knock to the ankle he suffered while on England C duty on Tuesday night assessed, although the player himself is confident he’ll be fit to play.

Evatt also gave an update on Blyth, who limped off early at Eastleigh, saying: “He’s got a small tear on his soleus, which is between the calf and the Achilles, so we’re looking at probably two or three weeks with him.”