Barrow AFC are waiting to see where centre-back Sam Hird will be fit for tomorrow’s match against Barnet at Holker Street, where they will already have to make at least one defensive alteration.

The Bluebirds will be without the suspended Patrick Brough, after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in their 3-0 win at Notts County last Saturday.

Hird hasn’t played since suffering a thigh strain against Torquay United four weeks ago, but is believed to be close to a return, while AFC midfielder Jason Taylor had a scan yesterday to see how his fractured cheekbone and eye socket are healing up.

Manager Ian Evatt said: “We’re not sure with Sam, it’s still up in the air at the moment. He’s progressed well this week and last Saturday he was at around 90 per cent.

“We’re going to have a look in the next couple of days to see if we can get that extra 10 per cent out of him to make sure he’s fully fit and ready to go.

“Jason saw a specialist on Thursday and he’ll be re-x-rayed to see if the bone has started to re-formulate and if it has then he has the mask ready and he’ll be ready to go again.”

Should Taylor make it, then he becomes an extra option to play in the back three, especially with recent loan signing Tom White adding to the Bluebirds’ midfield options.

John Rooney is ready to take on the captain’s armband again should Hird and Taylor be unavailable, however, while the club’s medical staff are still monitoring Dior Angus’ hamstring.

Evatt said: “As all of our players do, they have strengths and weaknesses and at the moment Dior’s hamstring is a bit of a weakness, so he’s been given an individual plan in the gym to strengthen that up and keep that improving.

“We’re in the gym three or four times a week because fitness in football is huge, especially to play the way we want to play. You have to be fit, not just aerobically but aesthetically as well, in terms of having strong muscles.”