BARROW Raiders latest loan signing Amir Bourouh goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s trip to face Swinton Lions (kick-off 3pm).
Raiders head coach Paul Crarey put in a call to his friend Paul Rowley, the Salford Red Devils Coach, to inquire if 23-year-old Bourouh was available.
Crarey explained: “We needed cover for Josh Wood with Aaron Smith still on the treatment table and Paul (Rowley) gave me the nod for Amir to be available.
“Josh (Wood) took a nasty knock to his thumb last Saturday against Halifax, but has put his hands up to play, he's a tough nut is Josh.
“Amir came to us last season on loan playing in two games and was handed the number nine squad jersey for Salford at the start of the season, that's how highly he is thought of.
“He is a great kid and will do a good job for us.”
Bourouh is going to Hull for next season and played Super League with Wigan in nine appearances and made 11 appearances for Halifax before joining the Red Devils.
Raiders welcome back Brad Walker, who missed the last two games with a calf strain, while the Wigan loan duo Harvey Makin and Jacob Douglas are in the squad.
Reflecting on last week’s defeat against Halifax (38-28) Crarey said: “ We let in some soft tries when they were down to 12 men (Gareth Widopp in the sin bin), but we ourselves scored some very good tries.
“It was disappointing, two games we have blown when we could have won - Halifax and Whitehaven Halifax though down the bottom end of the table had some very good and experienced players, and they came back to beat us.
“We played some good rugby at times, and let’s not forget we are a team with several local lads in, while Halifax were full of top Championship players.”
Crarey is expecting another tough encounter with Swinton and his players could face former wing star Tee Ritson, who is on loan from St Helens.
However, there is a chance he may make the final 17 for St Helens who face Salford with Tommy Makinson injured.
Rhys Williams should feature on the other wing to Ritson, and it could be a battle royal coming face to face with Douglas and Andrew Bulman.
However, the Lions will have to reshuffle at half-back with points machine Dec Patton being transferred to Featherstone late this week and Jordy Gibson suspended.
Swinton came up short last week 20-16 at home to Batley, but in their previous game won 42-40 at Featherstone.
Expected to be in their starting line-up are two former Barrow players Dan Abraham and Jake Spedding.
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