JACK Mackreth and David Raven will finally be able to make their Warrington Town debuts in the trip to North Ferriby United on Saturday.
Mackreth, 26, received his clearance after travelling to London on Tuesday to meet the FA having sat out the Yellows’ first four games of the season.
Both he and Raven, 33, have been waiting for international clearance from the Welsh FA having moved from Wrexham in the summer.
The 30 day automatic window will have passed for Raven by the weekend, with the club now hopeful the paperwork hold up that is affecting several clubs in the league has been resolved for them at least.
It provides a boost for Yellows manager Paul Carden, who has already lost Jack Dunn with a hamstring injury, with captain James McCarten on the sidelines long term, Adam Carden carrying a slight knock and Liam Hynes’ future uncertain.
Speaking after Monday’s draw at Bamber Bridge, Carden said: “If them two play we’ve got 16.
“We’ve had Spearo (Goalkeeping coach James Speare) on the bench with Adam, who’s still not quite right, so we didn’t have a lot to play with.
“When David and Jack come in they will strengthen us in a big way at both ends of the pitch, and also allows us to use Luke (George) as a midfielder where he wants to play.”
Former Chester captain George has formed a formidable central defensive partnership with the experienced Mark Roberts, but his long-term future is likely to be in the defensive midfield role vacated by Sean Williams.
That would enable Robbie Evans to get on the ball more, while Carden will also have to weigh up whether to play three men in the centre of midfield.
Mackreth’s pace will add variation to a Yellows attack that has so far relied on the strength and guile of Richard Brodie and Josh Amis, plus the tireless Tony Gray.
