Isle of Man FA manager Nick Hurt has said his squad are eager to start their FA Inter-League Cup defence in Chester on Saturday lunchtime.
Hurt and his 16-man selection travel to Cheshire to take on competition debutants Chester and Wirral League this weekend.
The first round tie will be played at Chester FC’s 5,300-capacity Lookers Vauxhall Stadium which hosted league football under its previous Deva guise as recently as 2009.
Hurt says the Men are looking forward to the challenge of retaining the biennial trophy they won in 2006 and 2014: ‘It’s a great opportunity for the lads - they know the prize that awaits them if they go all the way again.
‘Training has been going well and we’re hopeful our performances at the summer’s Island Games where we finished runners-up will give us the perfect springboard into this competition.’
The St Mary’s defender added that he expects the hosts will be out to impress: ‘We’ve got to treat this game as if it’s a massive cup final because they’ll throw everything at us with it being their first game.’
Hurt’s match day squad is made up nearly entirely of those that helped the Manx to Games silver in Jersey.
Striker Ciaran McNulty’s absence through holiday and a slight injury to Peel front man Josh Kelly means a rcall for Calum Morrissey.
The St George’s talisman made himself unavailable for IoMFA selection last September but has been persuaded to rejoin the fold by Hurt.
Commenting on the latter’s inclusion in the squad Hurt added: ‘I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen of him during the first few games of the season - he’s looking fit and sharp.’
Hurt and his coaching staff have taken a slight gamble and only picked one goalkeeper for the trip with Peel’s Max Thomas the only recognised shot-stopper in the 16. Hurt explained: ‘I know we’re taking a bit of a chance, but Damyan [Petkov] is ineligible for this competition having played professionally earlier in his career. If needed Johnny Myers can cover.’
Thomas and centre-back Dominic McGreevy’s summer moves to Peel from St Mary’s mean that all bar one of selection play for either the westerners or reigning Premier League champions St George’s. The odd man out is Rushen’s Liam Cowin who made the switch to Croit Lowey from Geordies ahead of the new season.
With last year’s top two making unbeaten starts to the current campaign, Hurt and coaches Jon Hallworth and Rick Holden will be hoping the squad will transfer that good form into this competition as they begin their bid to earn another stab at the UEFA Regions Cup.
Squad
Max Thomas (Peel), Matthew Woods (Peel), Marc Kelly (Peel), Liam Cowin (Rushen United), Dominic McGreevy (Peel), Johnny Myers (St George’s), Andrew Crennell (Peel) Chris Bass Jr (St George’s), Frank Jones (St George’s), Lee Gale (Peel), Jack McVey (St George’s), Daniel Bell (Peel), Conor Doyle (St George’s), Sam Caine (St George’s), Calum Morrissey (St George’s), Ashley Webster (Peel).