Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger hasn’t had the smoothest of pre-seasons – but is very happy with where his squad is in readiness for Saturday’s League opener.
He told the Cumbria Crack: “I’m over the moon actually with the squad, the quality of the players we have brought in and how we are shaping up.
“This is going to be the toughest this League has been for some time but our aim from the start is to win promotion.
“We have rarely had a full squad available for pre-season games because of holidays, injuries and a couple of lads getting married, so it’s been a bit disjointed.
“But I’m happy with what they have shown and even though there will be three or four missing with injuries on Saturday, that’s why you need a competitive squad.
”There will be others who are fit but not playing but I want them all to be ready to come in when the opportunity arises.”
If there is an area where Grainger might have considered himself short on numbers it’s at centre-back. Last season’s Player of the Year Sam Smith hasn’t played a single minute so far and Dan Wordsworth has recently got married.
However, Grainger had a trialist in at centre-back in the 2-1 win at Marske on Saturday and says he did really well and impressed so he is hoping to get something sorted by Saturday.
“We also had another central defender flagged our way and that’s also a possibility, although he has other commitments which would rule out midweek games at the moment,” said the manager.
Workington finished runners-up last season and lost out in the play-offs.
When Grainger was in charge previously Reds were leading the table by 10 points when the season was voided in March, while they were unbeaten and in the top four when his second season finished a lot earlier.
It’s unfinished business for the returning manager but he knows it is going to be really tough and competitive.
“You can look at Macclesfield, Hanley, Leek, Runcorn, Clitheroe, Witton and Trafford, and I’ve probably missed one or two from that list,” he reckons.
It’s always important to get off to a good start and Grainger is looking for a bumper first day crowd in the sunshine when Mossley provide the opposition at Borough Park.
“The pitch is looking immaculate and I hope we can get a big crowd which will be right behind us, as that’s always a big help to the boys,” he added.
