Boost for Poppies as key pair return
Ashley Westwood and Iyseden Christie will both play a part in Kettering Town's friendly at Corby Town tomorrow.
The pair featured in the opening friendly against Northampton Town but have missed the last two clashes with Charlton Athletic and Milton Keynes Dons due to slight injuries.
However, they have both recovered to hand Lee Harper a timely boost ahead of what he expects to be a tough test at Rockingham Triangle.
Jean-Paul Marna is also expected to finally report back after getting married recently, although his fitness will be assessed before he is thrown into the action.
Harper said: "Iyseden is okay now and that is a boost because if you have him and Paul Furlong up front then it will make us a bigger threat.
"Ashley is also back and I am really pleased because I pushed the chairman hard to get him in.
"His experience from a higher level will be good and when the team needs pulling around and organising, he is the sort of guy who will do it.
"We were quiet after the likes of myself and Nicky Eaden came out of the team last season. You need that spine to be good and you need a voice in there that can keep the lads on their toes."
The game with the Steelmen will be the Poppies' first opportunity to play against a side nearer to their level.
And Harper admitted he will be looking to use a side that could be close to the one that opens the Blue Square Bet Premier campaign at Gateshead on August 14.
"It will be a hard game, there's no doubt about it," he added.
"They are a team that don't get great crowds at home but they brought 600-odd fans to our place for a game last season. There were flares being thrown on the pitch so I think you will see an aggressive team that really wants to win.
"It will be an extremely difficult game but it's one I expect a lot from in terms of the performance of our players.
"The game tomorrow and the one at Hinckley are the last two that the fans will see as it stands. There will be others behind closed doors but we now have to start looking towards putting a team out there that will start the season."
Harper is also set to name his club captain after tomorrow's game with Westwood, Ian Roper and John Dempster being the main contenders.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
