Barrow AFC boss Mark Cooper has the welcome boost of two key men returning this week with another in with a shout of a comeback.

Captain Mark Ellis has finally completed a three-match suspension and is available for Friday night’s visit of Newport County.

James Jones is also back from a one-game back and can face the Exiles at Holker Street.

Cooper also says full-back Connor Brown has an “outside chance” of returning from injury to take on the Welsh side.

Ellis has been sidelined since receiving a straight red card in the draw with Bristol Rovers on August 28.

The return of such players is highly welcome for a Barrow squad which has been seriously depleted by injuries in recent weeks.

Barrow could only name six substitutes at Bradford on Saturday, with two of those being goalkeepers Josh Lillis and Scott Moloney.

One of the outfield subs, George Williams, made his own return from injury with a second-half outing.

“It’s well-documented we’ve had loads of injuries,” Cooper said.

“We had four [outfield] subs and two goalkeepers on the bench [on Saturday].

“We need those [other] boys back as quickly as possible to try and help us.

“I can’t wait to get all the players back so I can try and work with them.

“I’m not doing enough work with them at the minute because we’ve only got 10-11 players training.

“That’s nobody’s fault, just the way it is.”