Barrow confirm Ashall injury

Barrow coach Paul Crarey has confirmed that hooker Karl Ashall is set for a 12-week spell on the sidelines, after breaking his arm in the preseason game against Oldham.

“He’s snapped his arm, he has got to have a operation this week, so it probably rules him out for 12 weeks,” Crarey told his club’s official website.

“We will get him back some time at the end of March, hopefully.”

Crarey is disappointed for the player, and hopes that Nathan Mossop, as well as youngsters Brad Marwood and Dan Abram, can step up and fill the number nine role.

“He has trained the house down and I felt so sorry for him,” Crarey added.

“He was really up for it this year and has trained really well. We are disappointed but he will come back strong.

“He is pretty big for a nine, he’s calm and a great distributer of the ball but we have a good compliment of people that can play nine and all have different styles.

“Him and Mossy were probably our two key nines, with the two young lads finding their feet, but now they will have to step up.

“But they stepped up really well last year, Brad and Dan, so it is nothing new to them, they can do it, but missing Karl is a big blow, for him as well because he focused on a really good start to the year. He is pretty strong mentally so he will come back strong.”