Ahead of the start of the season this Saturday, which sees Spennymoor Town visiting Keys Park, manager Liam McDonald has given us his thoughts on how things have progressed over the course of the summer. He said:

“I’ve had a good chance to look through the squad during pre-season and I’m really looking forward to Saturday now. Overall it has been a very productive and positive pre-season and I’m looking forward to the upcoming season.

“I think it is important that supporters understand that this is a new squad with a lot of young players who will be giving 100% each time they go out there on to the pitch. Overall though I’m happy with how pre-season has gone; it always takes time to implement new ideas and new formations when you are bringing a squad of players together.

“The only thing I’ve been frustrated with is so many strikers having picked up injuries. Danny Glover picked up an injury before we started pre-season which meant he missed two weeks and then he was out for another ten days with a shoulder injury.

“Tristian Dunkley is still finding his fitness after missing the end of last season and also picked up an ankle injury which meant he was missing for a few games before returning recently.

“Gurjit Singh meanwhile was away in Russia playing in an international tournament and was feeling the effects of a summer with no rest. So it has been frustrating for them and me but they are all now close to fitness which is great news for the squad.

“We’ve also been able to bring in another new face who we are awaiting international clearance on, which will hopefully be sorted before Saturday.

“Finally I’d also like to thank the supporters for making me feel so welcome. Your patience while we build a new squad has been great, and this season will need all of us sticking together to make it a successful season.”

The Pitmen kick-off their campaign at Keys Park on Saturday at 3pm.