Mariners at the Stadium tonight

Gateshead reserves begin their defence of the Durham Challenge Cup tonight at home to STL Northern League side South Shields.

The Heed are able to select from their full squad, unlike last season where restrictions were in place, and nine professionals will be involved tonight.

Goalkeepers Tim Deasy and Paul Farman are in the squad along with the likes of Kyle Nix, Nathan Fisher and Ewan Moyes.

Striker Gary Mulligan, however, misses out due to a back problem in a side captained by midfielder Rob Briggs.

Gateshead won the Durham Challenge Cup for the first time last season and they face a South Shields side fourth bottom of the Northern League.

New boss Jon King saw his managerial rein get off to a losing start on Saturday when the Mariners lost 1-2 at home to Shildon.

Former Gateshead strikers David Southern and Alex Benjamin have been put on the transfer list while another former Tynesider, David Colvin, missed Saturday's defeat against the Railwaymen.

Gateshead reserves manager Paul Bryson is delighted to be able to select from a bigger pool of players in the Durham Challenge Cup this season.

"We did it the hard way last season and to lift the cup was a tremendous achievement," said Bryson.

"It is good to start our defence of the County Cup with a home tie and the aim now is to win the competition two years running."

. Tonight's Durham Challenge Cup tie against South Shields at the International Stadium kicks-off at 7:30pm and admission is £3 adult and £1 concessions.

Gateshead Res: Deasy, Doyle, Short, Nix, Moyes, Gilbert, Brittain, Cummins, Fisher, Briggs, Moore.
Subs: Evans, Farman (gk), Marshall, Luke, Taggart