There are six new faces at Barrow AFC’s Hopwood Hall base this week for the start of pre-season training and captain Josh Granite has been very pleased with how they’ve managed to quickly settle in.

The Bluebirds have made seven signings this summer, although one of those, striker Dior Angus, was already familiar to the squad after spending the second half of last season on loan from Port Vale.

Attacking midfielder Oliver Greaves became the latest new addition at Holker Street after signing on loan for the season from Sheffield United, following Morgan Penfold, Bradley Barry, Scott Quigley, Patrick Brough and Mark Waddington.

AFC fans will get their first chance to see them in action when Championship side Blackburn Rovers visit for today’s pre-season friendly and get a glimpse of how they’re adapting to manager Ian Evatt’s style of play.

Granite said: “It’s been great to get to know the new lads - they’ve fitted in really well and there’s some good players amongst them, some really good players.

“It’s just been nice to get back with the lads because it’s a long time off in the summer - it’s seven weeks without seeing anybody and it feels like a long time, so I’ve really enjoying this week being back with the management and all the players.

“I’ve got to know quite a few of the new players in the last few days and there are some great personalities and some really good young players.

“I just can’t wait for the games to start and see what they can do on the pitch because we all know that, while the training ground is important, it’s what you do out on the pitch that matters, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they cope.”

Evatt has already spoken about how pleased he was about the condition the players came back in, although that didn’t stop his staff making them do the hard yards - several thousand of them, in fact - this week.

They’ll be building up their fitness further against Blackburn and Granite believes he is in good shape with just under a month to go until the start of the season.

He said: “I can only speak for myself with what I did in the summer, but I had probably a week to ten days off resting and then I was working very hard every day up until we came back.

“I’ve come back in really good shape. I feel good, I feel fit and strong, while everyone else has come back in good shape.

“I don’t think there’s anyone who has come back that the manager isn’t happy with, so now it’s just a case of implementing his ideas making sure we’re ready, come August 3.”