Penrith manager Darren Edmondson will miss his side’s opening fixture in the Northern League this afternoon.
Edmondson is suffering from COVID and confined to home so assistants Mark Bell and Jordan Carrigan will take charge of the Northern League clash at Whitley Bay.
He said: “We’ve got COVID in the camp so with other injuries and unavailabilities we’ve up to 11 missing today.
“But we do have a deeper squad this year and it gives an opportunity to some younger players we have. They will need to mature quickly and others will have to stand-up to the mark but we have a reasonable starting eleven.
“It’s a tough start for us because Whitley Bay are a good side, with a good budget and have some ex-College players I am aware of.”
They have another testing trip in mid-week when they visit Heaton Stannington, pipped by Carlisle City on the final day of last season for the Division Two title.
That’s followed next Saturday by a home tie in the FA Cup against West Allotment Celtic with the winners set to entertain Workington in the preliminary round a fortnight later.
Edmondson took over after last season’s narrow escape from relegation and following the departure of former manager Chris Humphrey.
