BARROW AFC captain Niall Canavan has praised by boss Pete Wild. 

The 32-year-old central defender has been ever present for the Bluebirds this season, starting every single League Two match for Wild's side so far.

Canavan also got on the scoresheet for Barrow as they defeated Walsall 2-0 at Holker Street last time out, a matter of weeks after the club's captain had been speaking about his experience off the pitch with type 1 Diabetes.

Speaking ahead of the Bluebirds' FA Cup second-round clash with Maidstone United, Wild piled the praise on his captain and detailed his impact on his squad.

He said: "He is an extension of the staff and the leaders, I think he really leads the group well, I think he is such a calm and collected head. He never looks phased, he always looks in control and I think they are really good characteristics and characteristics that really rubs off on the players.

"He has such experience at this level and I think he just manages the group really well and he always looks in control and the biggest compliment you can give him is that he is always in control and that shows in the way he plays."

Wild also discussed the importance of having characters like Canavan in the dressing room that also form the 'spine' of his Barrow AFC squad.

He said: "We need to keep the solid spine of our team and the spine of the team is the one that plays the most games and keeps the team moving in the right direction so I think the spine is massively important for us.

"I also think you need characters such as Niall in the dressing room because he just brings that consistency and that calmness to what is already an experienced group."