Barrow AFC have bolstered their midfield options with the signing of Tom White on a two-month loan deal from Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

With the influential Jason Taylor set for a spell on the sidelines with fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket, White’s arrival adds more strength to the middle of the park during what is a crucial period in the season for the Bluebirds.

Manager Ian Evatt had previously tried to sign the 22-year-old from his previous club Gateshead during the summer, only to lose out on his signature to Blackburn, where he has yet to make an appearance.

The former Carlisle youngster is the second player from Rovers to join AFC’s squad, after defender Matt Platt, and he is available to make his debut in this afternoon’s game at Notts County.

Evatt said: “A massive thanks to Blackburn, who have always been great with us, especially with the likes of Lewis Hardcastle, Matty Platt and the pre-season game this summer. We’ve always had a good relationship there.

“Tom is a player I wanted last season. He was fantastic for Gateshead last season and I tried very hard to sign him in the summer, but obviously when clubs like Blackburn come calling, more than likely they’re going to choose them over us.

“Having said that, he’s now become available to come and get some games and we’re really excited to have him,

“He’s a fantastic young player and he fits the remit of what we look for and what we try to sign and he’s coming into a very good team and squad, so we’re really excited to have him.”

White played in all but three games for Gateshead last season, although he did get sent off against the Bluebirds on the final day of the campaign.

Along with most of the Heed's squad, he departed after their financial crisis, which led to their demotion to National League North, but he will now return to a level he knows well.

Evatt said: "He's good with the ball at his feet, he's possession-based, as we are, but also he can do the other side of the game, which is important as well.

"But in terms of how we build attacks and play through lines, Tom can do that fantastically well. He’s used to playing in this division, he knows the division well, having played in it for Gateshead last year and with the injuries we’ve got at the minute, it’s a good signing and he’ll come in and help us.

"We always want to keep moving forward and Tom is a massive part of that now. He's coming into a fantastic group of players, not just on the pitch with their quality, but off the pitch as well."