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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!"

Paul Holleran spoke to local media ahead of Saturday's trip to South Shields.

"We've had a little bit of a break," the expeienced manager said. "I think that sometimes helps a little bit when you're in the middle of a lot of games and you do a lot of travelling in this league. At the moment, we've had a nice break and got back on the training ground this week so, look, it's always good to spend time with this group.

"South Shields is a stadium we haven't visited as a club before, I've heard so many good things about the place. We're really looking forward to visiting them."

Giving a bit of a squad update, Holleran added "They're all back in training, some more gingerly than others. The little breather certainly helped two or three of them but yeah - we'll see where we are Saturday. It's a busy week with two away games either side of the Southport home game, but it's the reality of what we worked so hard to get promoted into.

"We're going to need everybody. I think that most of the side will definitely play their part over the next seven days. It'll be a tough week, but we're in good form with good spirits and we're well aware about South Shields' home record is up there with the best, it's like a lot of teams - we're the same - strong at home but away form can be a bit indifferent.

"I've watched them come through the leagues and wherever they've been, they've always played a really good brand of football and are quite expansive, lots of energy about them. When they get it right, they're a delight to watch. The reality of this league is there are spells where it'll be tough, they've had a few tough results already but that happens to everyone - Stockport, Harrogate, Salford all experienced that in our time in this league.

"We're expecting a really tough game, we're going to have to go through a bit of pain but we'll see where it takes us."

Paul Holleran has confirmed that Jiah Medrano has returned to the club after being recalled from his dual-registration deal at Barwell.

In his time in Leicestershire, Jiah contributed heavily to lifting Barwell out of the relegation zone, assisting five and scoring one meaning the Canaries have jumped from 23rd when Jiah joined to 15th.

Jiah will be in Saturday's matchday squad at South Shields, and will continue to wear his number 16.

Paul Holleran has received the Vanarama National League North Manager of the Month award for September.

In a month that has seen the Brakes go unbeaten in the league, the Brakes catapaulted themselves into a play off position to continue their fantastic start to the campaign - continuing as the best performing promoted club in Step 2 so far - only falling out of the play offs due to not playing over the international break.

Holleran's outfit are next in action this Saturday, with a long trip to South Shields, before they return back to Warwickshire on Tuesday 22 October as Southport visit Your Co-op Community Stadium for a 19:45 kick off.