Ryan Hall confident Worksop Town U21's are heading in the right direction

Under-21s manager Ryan Hall believes his side look good ahead of the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Ryan Hall is happy with the extra quality in Worksop's U21 squad. Pic by Lewis PickersgillRyan Hall is happy with the extra quality in Worksop's U21 squad. Pic by Lewis Pickersgill
Ryan Hall is happy with the extra quality in Worksop's U21 squad. Pic by Lewis Pickersgill

The Tigers have endured a physical pre-season, facing several senior sides in Worksop Town's first team, Askern Miners, Mickleover Reserves, Kiveton Park, Phoenix FC and Parkgate FC.

Hall believes that the physicality of the opponents has helped his side improve in a different way.

Hall stated: “Playing men’s sides gives the players a different way to use their bodies, dealing with the physical side of the game: it helps them be able to take a challenge which they normally wouldn’t be able to experience in an Under-21s fixture.

“It is sort of "old-manning" them a little bit as we have shown a little bit of naivety in some games.

“The whole learning curve is what I have been pleased with over the whole of pre-season and the next few games against some teams at our age group is where we will be able to tell where we are as a squad.

“The only downside is that we have had a fair few injuries over pre-season.”

Hall has kept most of last season’s side, adding some quality players to an already promising side.

The Worksop Under-21s boss has admitted that the squad selection conundrum will be a good headache to have.

Hall continued: “I think last season we could have done with a little more squad depth, with people stepping up to the first team and with a couple of injuries.

“The confidence and ability of some of the new lads has enhanced the squad greatly which has benefited me and the squad, as well as the club with the amount of talent that can make the step up and become part of Craig’s plans too.

“Callum Riley looks really strong; he has got five assists and two goals in pre-season from right wing-back. Lewis Price has come in and been exceptional.

“A few more have come in who I thought may be squad players, but they have performed and given me a real headache: Reiss Turton, for example, has come in and produced a masterclass in front of the home crowd against Phoenix.

“They have adapted to the style of play that we want, giving me a good headache when picking the starting 11 going into that first league game.”

The Under-21s begin their campaign against Chesterfield FC U21s on Friday 2 October at Sandy Lane.

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