Barrow AFC won’t have to look into getting another goalkeeper to back up Joel Dixon after receiving the news that Johnny Saltmer’s elbow injury isn’t as bad as first feared.

Saltmer suffered the injury while saving a shot during the warm-up of the Bluebirds’ final pre-season friendly of the summer against Sheffield United under-23s and it was feared he had injured his UCL ligament.

Had that been the case, it would have meant several months on the sidelines and it would have left AFC short of cover in case anything would have happened to Dixon, who has started every National League game since last November.

Manager Ian Evatt said: “Johnny is doing OK. It was the best possible ‘version’ of the injury, so we’re hoping that he’ll probably be back in two or three weeks’ time.

“We might need a goalkeeper in the short term and have a look at that, and obviously we’re looking to strengthen in other areas - with the transfer window shutting in the EFL soon, there may be one or two players who’ll be available.

“We’ll have to look at it and try and progress where we can.”

When asked whether this means scouring the loan market, Evatt said: “Possibly. If players fall out of managers’ plans in August and they manage to bring in other players themselves, then could become available on a permanent deal.

“If you can get a permanent transfer and if he’s in the right demographic of what we look for and will improve the club, then we’ll do that.”

Saltmer is the only member of Barrow’s squad who is unavailable for this afternoon’s match at Chesterfield, where Evatt’s side will be looking for consecutive victories for the first time this season.

After his performance at centre-back in last week’s win against Yeovil, there’s a good chance midfielder Jason Taylor will be moved back again at the Proact Stadium.

Evatt said: “He’s shown that he can do it. Jason is a fantastic player and fantastic pro and he’s very important to us because of the experience he gives us.

“I just felt that with everything that had gone on, with so many goals being conceded, we needed to do something and Jason, with his experience, moved back there and I though he and Sam Hird policed the game.

“They controlled it, they were composed and gave us a good platform to go and attack from.”