Ahead of the long trip to South Shields on Saturday, Leamington number one Callum Hawkins spoke to members of the local media to preview the fixture.

The keeper said "It should be a good game. They've got a really nice setup up there, the pitch is unbelievable so it should be a really good contest. They've not had the start they're capable of, but we've played well in all league games so far so if we keep doing what we have been we'll get a good result."

With the Rotherham-based custodian set to reach 100 Leamington appearances in the coming month or two, he felt a connection with the club straight away. Even whilst out with the ACL injury he sustained and had returned to his then parent club Burton Albion, the Hawk still travelled to watch the Brakes almost weekly.

Speaking about this squad, he said "As I said at the end of last season, we won't be a side who just sits above the relegation zone and accepts that, we want to challenge higher. The lads that the gaffer's brought in and everyone who was here last season have all stepped up again to the next level and are proving that we belong at this level.

"George Ward is brilliant at getting in your way! Sometimes he gets out of the way too but he's a great defender - he's stepped into the team massively and has shown he can play at this level and probably even higher, add in the goals and it's exactly what we need. You can't take anything away from Evo (Rob Evans) or Theo (Streete) either, as a defensive unit they've been solid, and it's nice to have a defence like that.

"It's one of them where we've got to stay as a unit - and that's not just the back four but everyone in front of them too. It's a complete team effort!"