DARLINGTON will again supplement their line-up with a handful of trialists when they play their latest pre-season game today at South Shields.

Away to Durham City seven days ago and against Sunderland on Thursday Quakers had a look at players hoping to impress manager Martin Gray.

He said: “We’ll keep the squad together for the South Shields game and hopefully have another look at a couple of the lads who are on trial with us.

“We’ve introduced a couple of young lads who we have on trial, and I’ve been quite pleased with that so far.”

Among trialists who have played at Heritage Park on Thursday were Alex Kitchen, Matt Fisher, Jack McLean and former Middlesbrough youngster Wilson Kneeshaw, while former Sunderland midfielder Lewis Gibbons featured against Durham.

“It’s early in pre-season, but we have a big week coming up because we have York on Tuesday night and then Gateshead on Friday,” added Gray.

“They’re two more big games, but we’ll just keep totting the minutes up and hopefully the performances will come through, as they did for an hour against Sunderland.

“Hopefully, that hour becomes an hour and ten, and everyone gets something from the games, with the fitness levels being the most important. It’s also about the new lads getting used to what we do and how we work.

“I think promotion always helps you as a manager when you’re trying to do your recruiting out of the season. Players always want to play at the highest level they can, and we’re really pleased with what the promotion has given us.”

New signing Phil Turnbull will not travel far today as South Shields, in Division Two of the Northern League, are his hometown club.

The midfielder impressed in his first appearance in a Quakers shirt on Thursday, involved in both of his team’s goals as Darlington went into a 2-0 lead before losing 4-2 in front of around 1,700 supporters.

“It gave a few of the new lads a taste of what Darlington is all about,” added Gray. “They’ve come from the Harrogates and clubs like that, and it’s a completely different world here.

“Even Phil Turnbull, who has come from Gateshead, has noticed a change, and they’re a very well supported club. I thought he was great on his debut – he’s exactly what we’re looking for, he keeps the ball and is very calm. His experience will be great for years to come.”

Today’s game at Mariners Park marks South Shields’ homecoming following an enforced two years in Peterlee.

During their 2012-13 Northern League season Quakers won 3-0 at the venue, then named Filtrona Park, which has been refurbished this summer following the arrival of new chairman Geoff Thompson.

The ground, and bar, will be open from noon with admission free for Under-16s, £5 for adults and £3 for those over the age of 65.