Colclough can shine in this system - Barrow

Barrow restored the former Crewe man to the bench against Aston Villa on Saturday.

And was rewarded by a lively showing when he threatened the opposition goal on a couple of occasions, which lifted the crowd noticeably.

“We have to score goals, we have to utilise wide players at the club, and Ryan’s one of them,” acknowledged the Latics interim manager.

“We know his talent, the new system (five at the back) we played probably suits him, and there’s much more to come.”

The 22-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at League One outfit MK Dons after falling out of favour with then-boss Gary Caldwell.

He was recalled from his loan spell over Christmas but, apart from a 14-minute cameo against Huddersfield on January 2, he failed to impress Warren Joyce.

Joyce even went as far as claiming Colclough’s fitness levels were ‘a joke’ on his return, since when he’s been working his way back to full match sharpness.