Spennymoor will give a debut to new full back Tyler Forbes when Kettering visit the Brewery Field in the Vanarama National League North on Saturday afternoon.

Moors were beaten 3-0 at leaders King’s Lynn last Saturday to leave them in sixth place in the table, and now they’re wanting to bounce back against a team whom they beat 2-0 earlier in the season albeit with a different manager.

Forbes is almost certain to go straight into the side to face the Poppies, after he was freed by Fylde earlier in the week. He started his career at Fleetwood, before moving to Brighton, Accrington Stanley and Newport County, before moving back to the north west.

Assistant manager Tommy Miller said; “We’re hoping that Tyler will settle in quickly, and that he will be a good signing for us. We want him to hit the ground running.

“He gives us a few more options, and he comes in time for these two games that are coming up, we’ve got Altrincham on Tuesday.

“This is a big week for us, we need to take maximum points from these two games, because we must get back on track.

“We’ve had a disappointing Christmas and New Year period, and we need to make up lost ground.”

Kettering have improved since they replaced their previous manager with former Mansfield, Torquay and Barrow manager Paul Cox, and are now up to 19th in the table, five points above the relegation zone.

“Kettering have improved recently, and have had some decent results, one of which last weekend was beating Farsley who are just above us in the table. We played them earlier on in the season, when they had a man sent off, and beat them 2-0.

“We know what to expect, they’re quite direct, and some our players need to stand up and be counted.

“Hopefully, the week’s break has done us some good, because games were coming thick and fast over the Christmas and New Year period.”

Midfielder Shane Henry will have a fitness test, while defender Stephen Brogan is suspended following his dismissal at King’s Lynn last week.

Moors have also strengthened their coaching set up during the week.

Coach Paul Midgley left the club and has been replaced by former Middlesbrough and Hartlepool full back Stuart Parnaby, whose last coaching job was at York City as number two to Sam Collins until January last year.

Midgley has left the club to devote more time to his full time role at Leeds United, and manager Jason Ainsley said; ““Midge has played a massive part in our progression during his 18 months at the club and his commitment and efforts have been outstanding.

“Stuart is a perfect fit for our management team after Paul’s departure, and after meeting him and seeing his enthusiasm about what we have built at the club, it was a no brainer.

“He is a Spennymoor lad who has watched a lot of our games, and he will bring his own strengths and ideas to complement Tommy and myself. We feel this will benefit us in the second half of the campaign.”

In the BetVictor Premier Division, leaders South Shields are at home to Mickleover, while Morpeth go to Buxton, and Whitby travel across to Hyde.

In the North West Division, Marske are at Pontefract, and Dunston are at home to Tadcaster Albion.