Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt is very happy with the form wide players Dior Angus and Josh Kay are showing after they returned to great effect in his side’s 3-1 friendly victory over Sheffield United under-23s.

Both players were forced to miss the 3-3 draw at Lancaster City on Tuesday night, with Angus suffering from a virus and Kay having a slight back problem.

The two combined for the Bluebirds’ opening goal against the young Blades with Kay’s lovely through ball, which followed some good footwork, putting Angus through for a clinical finish.

It’s safe to assume they are two of the ‘shoe-ins’ Evatt spoke of in regard to what sort of line-up he’ll be naming in AFC’s National League opener at Wrexham next Saturday.

Evatt said: “I think in spells we were very good, particularly in the first half. We lost a bit of impetus and a bit of intensity when we made some changes in the second half, but there’s still lots to work on.

“The pleasing thing for me is I think Josh Kay and Dior are on fire at the minute and look a real handful and a real threat.

“I’m really pleased with those two and we look a different team when they’re not in the team at the moment, so hopefully they can continue that good form into the season.”

With Scott Quigley and Patrick Brough also returning for the game from injury and tonsillitis, respectively, Evatt will have almost a full compliment of players to pick from for the trip to the Racecourse Ground.

“We’ve got a fully-fit squad, apart from Johnny Saltmer, who got injured in the warm-up,” Evatt said.

“He’s hurt his elbow and we’ll have to get that assessed and see where we’re at with that, but other than that we’re all ready to go.”