BARROW AFC have have brought one of the town's top young footballers back home after signing Workington's Nathan Waterston.

The Bluebirds put in seven days' notice on the Reds striker, but the West Cumbrian club waived that period, allowing AFC to secure him on a deal until the end of the season.

Waterston has impressed Ady Pennock in recent weeks, with the AFC boss watching the 20-year-old forward in action several times and describing him as 'hungry' to impress for his hometown club.

“He's done well for Workington,” said Pennock. “Yes, he's a little bit raw, but he's got good pace about him and he can play in a couple of positions – he can play centre-forward and out wide as well.

“He's so, so hungry as well – so hungry to do well for the football club. He lives in Barrow, he's from Barrow, and he's really hungry to do well. I want to give him that opportunity. It was a no-brainer.

“You speak to him and he is so enthusiastic to do well for Barrow, and everyone is really hoping that he does do well.

“I want to go on record to thank Workington. The way they dealt with it was top-drawer – they were very honest and they're good people, very good people.”

Former Penrith player Waterston has been given a run in the Workington side recently, and has been playing well.

The former Barrow AFC youth team man netted twice against Marine in the Integro League Cup and against National League opposition in their FA Trophy defeat to Bromley – opponents he may well come up against again this season, with AFC still to travel to face the Ravens.

Writing on Twitter, Waterston said: "A massive thank you to everyone involved at @WorkingtonAFC and @RISC2015.

"I won’t forget the support I’ve had in my time at Borough Park. I’m now looking forward to the next stage of my career and getting started at @BarrowAFC"

Workington joint-manager Lee Andrews had accepted he was set to lose one of his talented young players before the deal was announced, and said: “We have always said, as a club, we will not stand in anyone’s way of playing at a higher level.

“Nathan has been very patient this season and has taken his chance really well.”

Waterston is the first local to be part of the squad since Elliot Newby departed last summer. The young winger had been offered a new deal by then-boss Paul Cox, but having seen his first-team chances limited chose to join National League North AFC Telford United, where he has been a regular.

Barrow-born Waterston has previously turned out for the likes of Crooklands Casuals and Furness Rovers on the local football scene since his youth, and is well-known on the cricketing circuit as well, having played for Furness and Hawcoat Park and has represented Cumberland.