Throughout the course of this season Barnet have signed five central defenders on loan to partner the reliable David Stephens. The latest is Tom Flanagan.

The 21-year-old joined the Bees until the end of the season midway through March and has started the last two matches. It is no coincidence Barnet have kept clean sheets in those games.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 has impressed. He’s comfortable in possession and confident in building attacks from the back but has the physical attributes required to thrive in League Two.

His growing partnership with Stephens could play a vital role in helping Barnet avoid relegation and Flanagan believes the duo are developing a strong partnership.

He explained: “We get on well both on the pitch and off the pitch. He is a funny lad and we are quite similar in the way that we play.

“We both like to get the ball down and pass rather than just kicking it forward or out of play and we are both good aerially as well. The key is to always be talking to each other.

“David is a good communicator as well which is why I think he has done well with all the people he has played alongside this season.”

Flanagan joined Gillingham at the beginning of the campaign on a six-month loan deal but it was cut short after four months due to injury.

“It is different at the top compared to when you are at the bottom and I appreciate that is a cliché,” he said.

“I feel that there are the little things that go for you when you are at the top. You have that little bit of luck in games. I do not think it is down to the calibre of the players.

“Gillingham do have one or two outstanding players which helps them stay at the top but I feel there is enough at Barnet for the club to not be in a relegation battle.

“We have set ourselves a target of three more wins. We are playing a couple of teams around us as well and if we win those matches then there is no reason why we shouldn’t be fine.”

Barnet have six league games remaining this season and the centre-back says his first target is to help the club stay in the division.

He also aims to feature in every match during the Bees’ run in and hopes to get on the scoresheet at least once as he has “quite a good goal record for a centre-back."

Flanagan added: “I also want to build up a good rapport with the players because you never know who you will come across in the future.”

Like many players who have joined Barnet this season, Flanagan describes The Hive training facility as “one of the nicest” he has been to and believes there is plenty of quality in the Bees squad.

He explained: “It is a big squad here. When I arrived I saw good players that I have faced before not being able to get into the side and I wondered why.

“Then you get stuck into training and you quickly realise that there are a lot of good players here. So there is plenty of competition for places and that will definitely help us.”