Rebels are ready for the big kick off

Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood is confident that he’s assembled a squad ready to compete for honours in the new Ryman South campaign.

Hinshelwood,pictured, believes he’s getting close to finalising his squad for the upcoming season at Woodside Road after offering trials to a number of young players in the club’s opening pre-season friendlies.

Trialist Dan Simmonds, who scored 21 goals for Littlehampton last season, and George Hayward, with a penalty, netted in a 2-2 draw for Rebels at Arundel. Hinshelwood also fielded several trialists and younger players in their 4-1 win over AFC Portchester when Trevor McCreadie with two and Ben Pope and Simmonds all on scored.

Hinshelwood told www.worthingherald.co.uk: "I’ve used a number of trialists in our first two friendlies as I wanted to have a look at what they have to offer. But the focus now is on getting the squad narrowed down a bit in the last few games of pre-season.

"Once the squad is assembled and we know who we want to have in the side, we can work on our technical shape and I can get my philosophy across to the players."

Worthing kick off the campaign with a trip to Faversham on August 9 before entertaining Corinthian Casuals in their first home game on August 13. With the season less than two weeks away, Hinshelwood is delighted with the players he has available.

He said: "It’s coming together nicely. We have got a good squad. Obviously, I would like to have one or two more in there but I’m happy with how it’s all panning out. I’m just looking forward to the season starting now and, hopefully, we can get off to a good start and see where we go from there."

"It’s going to be a tough start. We played Faversham last year and we know what to expect, it’s not an easy place to go. The Sussex derbies are ones I look forward to, we have got Three Bridges and East Grinstead early on, so that should be good."