Danny Grainger says he and his players are raring to go for tomorrow’s kick-off in the NPL Premier Division at home to Ashton United.
“It’s where we’ve wanted to be for these last two or three years and now we are ready after a good pre-season.
“We know it will be tough because I have massive, massive respect for Steve Cunningham and his team. If we are not on our game they are capable of punishing us, but at the same time we know we are capable of hurting them.
“We will go into the game believing it’s about us and how we can influence the game in a positive manner and I am looking for a big crowd to give us the backing that we know can make a difference,” said Grainger.
Goalkeeper Danny Eccles is the one injured player with no chance of making the line-up as he continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered in the first friendly match of pre-season.
“We do have two players who are 50-50 with knocks and hopefully I will have an indication later today on how they are going to be.
“There is a possibility of a short-term loan deal, but whether it will be in time for Saturday I’m not sure. It’s more likely for Tuesday’s game at Morpeth,” said Grainger.
Reds have been priced at 40/1 to win the NPL title and tomorrow’s visitors have been quoted at 150/1 which would seem to be wildly over-priced given Cunningham’s track record.
Macclesfield, who won the NPL West Division title last season, are tipped to continue their success as a higher level and are priced at a skinny 8/11.
They have today shown their intent by announcing a club record fee to sign Warrington Town star striker Luke Duffy.
Although the exact figure is unknown, the Silkmen have confirmed that they have paid a club-record fee to acquire the services of the 24-year-old.
Duffy, who can operate anywhere across the forward line, played a pivotal role in the Yellows’ promotion to the National League North via the play-offs.
He scored 10 goals for the club in 2022/23 – two of which came during their play-off semi-final victory at home to Matlock Town.
In total, Duffy made 92 appearances for the Yellows following his arrival from Lower Breck in September 2020, scoring 17 times.
Last weekend, he featured and scored for his former club in their 4-0 victory at Southport on the opening day of the National League North season.
But Macclesfield have lost last season’s top scorer James Berry who has signed for National League Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee.
