Barrow AFC midfielder John Rooney is prepared to shoulder the extra responsibility that may be placed on him in the weeks ahead, with several of his experienced teammates currently on the sidelines.

Rooney has been one of the Bluebirds' key players during their surge up the National League table in the last few months, with his eye for goal from the middle of the park and creativity making him a stand-out performer.

However, he won't have midfield partner Jason Taylor alongside him for the next few games and AFC will have to do without the leadership of club captain Josh Granite for the next two months, due to the injuries both suffered against Sutton United two weeks ago.

With Sam Hird also fighting for fitness ahead of tomorrow's match at Notts County, that leaves Rooney, at 28 years old, as one of the senior figures available and that is a role he is more than comfortable with.

Rooney said: "I've always had that older head on my shoulders, to be fair, and in this team I am a senior player because it's a young team.

"We haven't got many players over 30 - only the likes of Hirdy and Jason, and Byron [Harrison] as well, but it comes down to experience and you can't buy experience.

"However, the lads who have come in, such as Lewis Hardcastle, have played a lot of games at this level now and they know what it's about. I think Saturday will be a good game - obviously, they've got a big ground and a nice pitch, so the lads are really looking forward to it."

This will be the longest period Barrow will have had to adapt to life without Taylor since he signed from AFC Fylde last year and it also robs them of a midfield partnership that has served them well for the last 16 months.

Rooney said: "Me and Jason compliment each other really well because we're both good at different things.

"To have him missing is big for us, but it happens, it's football. Obviously, he is going to be a miss, but I'm sure the lads who come in will be able to cope with it.

"We've got a good bunch of lads, with people waiting to come in and take their chance. You're going to miss anyone like Jason when they're out the team, but it's one of those things we're just going to have to get on with."

The Bluebirds have been boosted by the loan signing of Blackburn midfielder Tom White since Taylor's injury, while Hardcastle has shown already this season that he can fill in a more defensive role.

"Obviously, we don't know the team yet, but if Lewis comes in and he plays deeper, that's something he can do," Rooney said.

"He showed that when we played Chorley away and he played really, really well, so it won't be an issue to him."