Manager Ian Evatt has insisted the ‘door is not closed’ on striker Jack Hindle at Barrow AFC after he was allowed to join Gateshead on loan until the end of the season last week.

Hindle was the Bluebirds’ top scorer in Evatt’s first season with 12 goals, but the former Radcliffe and Colwyn Bay man struggled for opportunities in the current campaign after falling behind Scott Quigley and Dior Angus in the pecking order.

The 26-year-old had only three league starts by the time he left for the Heed and although his contract with AFC does have the option for a further year, it is currently set to expire at the end of the season.

Evatt said: “The door’s never closed on anybody, it’s just not the way I want to do things.

“In terms of Jack, he’s suffered this year and he’s suffered mostly because Quigs and Dior have been outstanding, but when he’s got on and got games I just haven’t seen the same spark from him that I saw last season, and in training as well.

“You can pick things up in training and he just hasn’t looked the same this season, for whatever reason.

“He just needs to go out and play, get some confidence, get some goals and then we’ll welcome him back with open arms, that’s what we want for him.

“We want him to succeed and do well - hopefully he’ll go there and do that and if he does he’ll come back stronger.”