Barrow AFC may be forced into making yet another defensive change when they welcome Maidstone United to Holker Street tomorrow.

The Bluebirds are having to manage a toe injury to captain Josh Granite, who has been able to get through the last few matches thanks to pain-killing injections.

Granite has played a key role in the new-look back three that has kept three consecutive clean sheets, being a constant through that with the personnel either side of him changing regularly.

That includes Brian Wilson having to miss last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Braintree Town due to a calf problem, but the veteran centre-back has thankfully recovered and could come in for Granite if he’s not fit to face the Stones.

Manager Ian Evatt said: “Brian is back in training, he’s fine, which is good news and we’re really pleased to have him back quickly. Everyone else is more or less fully fit, apart from Josh. We’re trying to get his toe sorted ASAP, so he doesn’t have to play with injections and we’ll have to see how that one is.

“It’s not very often that we’ve had a fully-fit squad – Rhys Turner is back as well – so it’s looking promising.”

Losing Granite would be a blow, as he is one of the Barrow players who have really benefitted from the change of formation, with his performances earning him a place in the National League’s Team of the Week for the last two weeks.

Evatt said: “No disrespect to Josh, but I’m surprised because he’s been carrying an injury.

“He’s not 100 per cent fit, he’s been playing with pain in his foot and having injections before games, so I think he’s as surprised as anyone.

“He plays a huge part, in terms of his leadership, but he knows that, physically, he could feel better and play better and we’re trying to get that sorted.

“As a leader, he’s a fantastic leader; he brings positivity to the group and he brings a great attitude to the group.”