BARROW AFC left-back Junior Tiensia is still 'four or five weeks' away from returning from injury, Pete Wild has confirmed. 

The 23-year-old full-back who joined the Bluebirds from Solihull Moors in the summer had his flying start to life in South Cumbria cut short in October when he picked up an ankle injury in Barrow's 2-2 draw with MK Dons. 

Tiensia underwent surgery on this injury in November and continues to recover ahead of a potential return at the beginning of March.  

Barrow travel to Meadow Lane this weekend to take on Stuart Maynard's Notts County and ahead of the clash Wild confirmed that Tiensia would be the only injury absentee for the Bluebirds.

"The squad is good, there are no injuries. Junior is still four or five weeks away but that is the only one really for the weekend," He said

By the time Tiensia makes his comeback from injury he will have spent around five months of his debut season on the sidelines.

Such a lay-off could present unique challenges to a young player still attempting to bed himself into a new footballing environment.

However, Wild asserted that Junior's 'bubbly character' has made him a dressing room favourite, with his teammates looking forward to his return to first-team action.

He said: "It can be tough at times when you are off on your own and you're in the gym and lads are out on the training pitch and you're a little bit detached from what is going on.

"It can be tough but Junior has been great. We have been very accommodating with his injury and with him being away from home and all the things that come with that.

"The other week we were at Sutton away and Junior turned up because it is quite close to his house, so I would like to think that he is still quite mixed in with the lads.

"He is desperate to get back out playing but he is such a lively and bubbly character that he is easy to get along with and he is such a nice person, and all the lads are hoping that he is back on the pitch soon."