Penrith boss Matt Henney is set to run the rule over a number of trialists in tonight’s friendly against Workington Reds.

Former Reds winger Henney is expecting to have a much larger squad at his disposal for the game at Borough Park than he did for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Northern Premier League Division One North side Lancaster City on Saturday.

The Bonny Blues only had the bare 11 available after a spate of injuries in the past week ravaged their squad. 16-year-old substitute Hammu Tan won it for the hosts.

And Henney said the defeat at the Giant Axe against City – who are managed by the ex-QPR and Newcastle defender Darren Peacock, with former England midfielder Trevor Sinclair also on their coaching staff – was a particularly narrow one.

“We did really well given that we only had 11 players after a horrendous number of injuries this week,” he said. “But we gave them a really good game, and Darren Peacock was really pleased with the workout we gave them.

“The lads deserved a draw really and it was against higher-level opposition, similar to the Kendal game [the 3-3 draw last Tuesday], so it’s been a good week for the lads.”

New signing Jake Smith could line up for Penrith in their next friendly at his old club, Workington Reds, tonight. Smith spent a spell on loan at Frenchfields last season whilst dual-registered with both clubs, but has committed himself to Henney’s men for this campaign.

Among the other trialists hoping to earn themselves a deal with the Northern League Division One side are fellow Reds youngster Jonny Murray and former Newcastle United midfielder Steven Logan, who ended last season with Annan Athletic.

Henney says Smith’s signing is another positive move for the club, with the new campaign less than two weeks away, and reiterated his belief that Penrith can act as a stepping stone for promising young local players.

“His ambition will be to get more games now,” said the Bonny Blues boss of Smith. “When Gav [Skelton, ex-Reds manager] left he went back and wanted to give it a go under the new management, and Derek [Townsley] has been open and honest about things and how much game time he’d be getting, so we’re really happy to have him here.