Escort Diesel van starting problem?

R reg 55 1.8 Diesel van, only 60K, usually good starter wouldn't start, Thought might have got low on fuel, changed fuel filter, primed new battery, now turns over a lot faster than it used to, but wont start unless I squirt Cold start in intake and only then if I use starter excessivley. It seems as if only a couple of cylinders are working initially. Did get it going, but although it idles normally it seems underpowered and is more noisey than it used to be. Removed and checked glow plugs.