JOHN Eustace hailed his Kidderminster Harriers players as their pre-season preparations for the 2016-17 season in the National North stepped up, writes Peter McKinney.

The games have been coming thick and fast this week with friendly defeats to strong Burton Albion and West Bromwich sides as well as a Worcestershire Senior Cup victory over Stourbridge on Monday night.

There is no rest for the management team and the squad, with Harriers playing Evesham United away in the WSC semi-final on Thursday (7.45pm kick-off).

If victorious, the club faces a fixture clash as they will have to play Redditch United in the final at Bromsgrove Sporting, at the same time as Saturday’s home pre-season against Doncaster (both games 3pm ko).

The club have a handful of trialists which have been used in all three games this week, as well as youngsters such as Ben Clarke and George Forsyth.

Manager Eustace said: “The squad is not that big but we’ve got a lot of trialists.

"Young Ben Clarke came on against Burton as a substitute and got some great experience, George Forsyth came on against West Bromwich and learned a lot.

“Pre-season is there to learn and get better and give the young boys the experience they need.

“The squad for Evesham will be like the one that did fantastically well against Stourbridge.”

Eustace was delighted by the performances against the Brewers and Baggies, adding: “Burton are a top team, they were runners-up in League One last season and they go into the Championship, which is a high standard.

“We are three weeks into pre-season and we’re trying to play how we want to play. I was really pleased with the effort and proud of the squad. Pre-season is there to get fit and we’ve learnt a lot from the game.”

Ashley Carter is set to recover from a dead leg, while striker Mani Dieseruvwe and Jared Hodgkiss have injuries.