Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt was always more concerned with keeping the players he's got this month, rather than bringing anyone else in, and retaining loanees Tom White and Matt Platt for the rest of the season came as a major boost.

Both players have thrived at Holker Street since their arrivals from Championship side Blackburn Rovers, with Platt shoring up the Bluebirds' defence and White giving them extra quality in midfield and both have played a big part in keeping Evatt's side top of the table.

White's loan was due to expire this week, but that was extended for the remainder of the campaign on Monday, while Platt staying on as well has put to bed fears of a team from a higher division taking him on.

Evatt said: "I'll be surprised if there weren't other teams looking at Platty, although I'd be surprised if there weren't Football League clubs looking at most of our players.

"They're a talented young bunch, most of them, and when you're performing really well, like we've been doing, you're going to get scouts and vultures are going to try and poach them, but as it stands, they're in my little nest and that's where they'll be staying for the rest of the season."

On what White has brought since his arrival in November, Evatt added: "He's got a great attitude and he's a very talented boy.

"The way he moves his body when he receives the ball in tight areas is excellent and we're certainly lucky to have him."

AFC will be in front of the BT Sport cameras this evening when they come up against fellow promotion contenders Bromley at Holker Street.

Although striker Byron Harrison is likely to start that game on the bench, Evatt is hoping the game time he received in last week's FA Trophy ties against Atherton Collieries and FC United will have restored some of his confidence.

He said: "He's a great lad, Byron. It's not been easy for him because Scott Quigley and Dior Angus have been absolutely on fire.

"He understands that it's part of football that you've got to be patient and wait for your turn and I thought last week we saw more of the Byron Harrison that we know.

"Obviously, any player can suffer with loss of form or a lack of confidence, but he spoke to me last week at length that he really wants to be a part of what we're doing, he wants to play for Barrow and he wants to stay and fight for his place.

"We've had opportunities to loan him out in our division, but we've turned that down because he wants to be here and fight with us, and long may that continue."