"The lads are ready to get going," says Town boss McGrath ahead of Saturday's season-opener

The Shaymen rounded off their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win at Curzon Ashton on Saturday, but face a tough-looking start to the National League season at Robbie Savage's side, who finished in the play-offs last term.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said McGrath, "it's what we started out six-and-a-half weeks ago to prepare for and the lads are ready to get going.

"It's good playing pre-season games to get your eye in but you can't beat the real thing."

On Town's opening day opponents, McGrath said: "Good side, made the play-offs last year.

"There's no getting away from the fact they've got a good, full squad, full of talent.

"It's a tough place to go, not only on opening day but any day of the week.

"But we're also tough opposition and I want to concentrate on us and how we can put our stamp on the game."

McGrath confirmed that Cody Johnson will captain the side if, as expected, Sam Johnson doesn't start on Saturday.

Town's pre-season has been hampered by the departures of star players Will Harris and Jay-Turner Cooke, with attacking midfielder Josh Hmami following them out of the exit door and joining Harrogate Town this week.

Harris and Hmami scored 30 times in the league between them last season, but McGrath is confident his team can find the goals to replace them.

"That's the conundrum, you don't really want to lose goals from your team, you don't want to lose good players from your team and Will and Josh were good footballers," he said.

"But for different reasons, ultimately they didn't want to remain at the club, so we have to move on, we have to try and find replacements.

"I wouldn't have signed Conor Carty if I didn't think he could lead the line as a nine, I wouldn't have signed Amari if I didn't believe he could chip in.

"Zak Gilsenan, for me, was a really important signing. He's one that I think will chip in with double figures.

"Yes, when you look at it from afar, losing those goals are going to be hard to replace but it's up to everybody else to chip in.

"And not just the lads I mentioned, we've got wingers like Connor Douglas, Owen Bray, Arian Allen, midfielders in Cody Johnson and WIll Hugill, they've all got to chip in, even the full-backs and centre-halves.

"If we can, as a collective, be better then that takes the pressure off our nines and tens.

"But I still back Conor Carty, Morgs (Amari Morgan-Smith), David Kawa and Zak Gilsenan to lead the line for us."

On his message to the fans ahead of the new season, the Town boss said: "Just come and support us, come and get behind the boys.

"It's a new start, a new management team, new group of players that have blended in with the ones from before.

"We need them as much as they need us. It's a collective, it's everybody in and around the club, so come in your numbers."

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