Dan Jones’ season is over after the Barrow AFC defender tore ankle ligaments during an accident during a training session last week.

The 24-year-old had played in all but two of AFC’s National League games in the campaign prior to the injury and has undergone a successful conversion from left-back under manager Ian Evatt.

In a season that has seen Jones’ fellow centre-backs regularly suffer injuries, he had been a constant in the Bluebirds’ backline, with his consistently good form being rewarded with an England C call-up last month.

Evatt said: “Dan Jones has got a really nasty injury on Monday, in training, which is going to keep him out for probably two to three months.

“It was just a freak accident with his ankle on the training ground and he’s tore his ATFL ligament, which is one of the main ligaments in your ankle.

“I’m gutted for him because he was really was playing so well. Everyone knows what I think of Dan as a footballer and as a lad, so we’re disappointed with that, but we’ll stand by him, we’ll stick together and hopefully we can persuade him to stay.

“It’s going to be tough because of how good he is, but we’re certainly working hard on that and hopefully he’ll buy into our project and we can persuade him to stay.”

Other than Jones, Barrow don’t have too many injury worries for today’s clash with Hartlepool United, which is their final home game of the season, after Dior Angus and Connor Brown both made their returns at Maidenhead.

Evatt said: “Jacob [Blyth] is back on the grass, Connor was obviously back on Friday, Rhys Turner is not far off being back, Brian Wilson is actually not far off from being back and Nathan Waterston is back jogging again.

“The lads are all coming back, it’s just a shame that time is running out a bit for them.

“Nathan has worked really hard in recovery and I’m pleased it looks like he can give it a good go in pre-season.”