Gateshead v Greenock Morton - Match Preview

14/07/2010, by Jeff Bowron

Unlike the opening two pre-season friendlies Gateshead manager Ian Bogie will not use every player in his squad for the visit of Scottish 1st division club Greenock Morton on Thursday.

Bogie expects to use 16/17 players in what will be the Tynesiders first warm up game at home, the other being against a Newcastle United XI at the end of the month.

James Curtis and captain Kris Gate are both missing through injury while Craig Nelthoprpe missed training today to have work done on a broken nose.

Jon Shaw will make his belated home debut and partner Brian Wake up front, Wake having joined Gateshead from Morton in January.

Former Brentford, Bristol City and Swindon Town central defender Matt Heywood will be given another chance to impress after joining the club on trial.

Phil Turnbull, like Shaw, will play his first pre-season friendly having missed the first two through injury and youngster Steve Baptist is in line to make his first home start.

Gateshead (probable): Farman, Baxter, Heckingbottom, Clark, Heywood, Brittain, Ferrell, Turnbull, Baptist, Shaw, Wake. Subs (possible): Jones, Allan, Dowson, Nelthorpe, Fisher, Brown

"The players who do not feature against Morton will all be involved at Spennymoor Town on Saturday," said Bogie.

"I took in Morton's goalless draw on a poor pitch at Blyth on Tuesday and they are a good footballing side.

"It should be a good work out for both sides and for the Gateshead fans the chance to see a number of new faces for the first time."

Morton, who host Bristol Rovers on Saturday, have brought a squad of 23 for their North East mini tour under the watchful eye of new manager Allan Moore.

"The back four acquitted themselves very well against Blyth," said Moore "when you play teams in Scotland there’s a familiarity but going down there is a different challenge.

"It can be a hard slog. There’s usually a bit of needle when you play English teams so we expect it to be competitive though we don’t want to pick up any niggly injuries."