Barrow AFC boss David Dunn believes the affect of Covid-19 on the transfer market should lead some players to lower their demands.

The Bluebirds boss says AFC are still in the market for additions with the transfer window open for another two weeks.

Dunn has been hoping to add to his squad this week in a bid to further strengthen Barrow after last season’s promotion.

As they prepare for Saturday’s trip to Carlisle United, Dunn says the fact there are still large numbers of players still without clubs should make some potential targets get real.

“With the financial implications of what’s happening, a lot of players are [looking for] a bigger salary but at some point they’re going to have to really lower it,” he said.

“As much as we can have a target list of 20 players, they might be 20 unrealistic ones for us.

“But as the weeks go by, and maybe just before the transfer window closes, who knows – those unrealistic ones might not seem so far away and might become more realistic.

“It’s a little bit strange this year. I do feel people are getting a bit more realistic now, as the days pass.

“Hopefully we can make that work for us.”

Dunn is hoping his side can claim their first win of the league season at Brunton Park this weekend.

It will be the first meeting between the Bluebirds and Barrow since the 1963/4 season.

That campaign, AFC drew 2-2 with Carlisle at home before a 4-1 defeat at Brunton Park.

One key man in the Cumbrian derby will be skipper Lewis Hardcastle, who Dunn expects to be an influential figure throughout 2020/21 for Barrow.

The ex-Blackburn man opened his account for the season in the recent 2-1 defeat at Newport and manager Dunn expects more goals from the 22-year-old.

“Lewis and I go back a long time,” Dunn said.

“I was his coach at Blackburn for a number of years, when he was a young kid and I was coaching the under-23s.

“Lewis is a really good footballer and I’m looking forward to him pushing on now.

“Midfielders’ jobs are to score goals as well, and if there’s one thing I’ve always said to Lewis is that he needs to get more goals and more assists into his game.

“It was a hell of a strike against Newport. He’s been scoring in training and I said to him the other day, ‘That takes you into games’.

“Scoring in training is a good habit and hopefully that can follow you onto the pitch on a Saturday.”