Pitchero Non League

Matthew Blinkhorn

But whoever arrives in time for the opener at Oxford City on Saturday week, he will have to play second fiddle to Marc Williams and Nathan Jarman.

Williams – the hat-trick hero of last Saturday’s 3-0 win over North Ferriby United – and Jarman have been two of the stand-out performers of pre-season.

And, after they came off the bench to help Chester FC to a deserved 1-1 draw at home to an under-strength Fleetwood Town team on Tuesday, Young confirmed the duo have made themselves his first-choice front pairing.

Young used the clash with the npower League Two new boys to run the rule over on-trial forwards Matthew Blinkhorn and Vinny Mukendi.

Blinkhorn, 27, who counts Blackpool, Morecambe and York City among his former clubs, and Mukendi, 20, who was released by Macclesfield Town in the summer, worked hard without carrying a real goal threat.

Young must decide whether to offer them short-term deals or enter the loan market, with young frontmen from clubs in League One and Two and the Conference Premier on his radar.

Young travels to Telford this morning for a meeting of the Football Conference managers before returning to Chester to oversee a behind-closed-doors-clash against GAP Connah’s Quay.

The double title-winning manager, who will use tonight’s match to get the likes of Adam Proudlock up to speed, is back on the road tomorrow to scout opening day opponents Oxford.

Young will complete his busy week when the Blues welcome Bangor City to the Exacta Stadium on Saturday (2pm) for what is their final first-team friendly.

Young, who sends a select XI to Conwy Borough on Tuesday (7.15pm), said: “We will definitely be bringing in a forward before the season starts, we’ve just got to make sure we’re getting the one with the ingredient we need.

“Nathan Jarman and Marc Williams will start the season so we need someone who is going to come in and make a difference if required.”

Young is getting closer to knowing his starting line-up for the trip to Court Place Farm on August 18th.

He admits he has a real headache when it comes to choosing his two central defenders, hailing the fit-again Paul Linwood and Dom Collins as ‘excellent’ against Fleetwood.

With Iain Howard and Robbie Booth injured, Sean Clancy – who netted Chester’s equaliser on Tuesday – and Dave Hankin are likely to start in the wide midfield areas.

Antoni Sarcevic – who Young said was ‘outstanding’ against Fleetwood – is in pole position to partner Ashley Williams in the centre of the park.

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