Neil Young believes it is only a matter of time before Chester fans see the best of Rob Hopley, Roger Sharrock and Andy Burgess.
All three featured in the Blues’ comprehensive 5-0 victory over Nantwich Town on Saturday, Chester’s last pre-season fixture before the start of their campaign a week today at Warrington Town.
The trio have endured tough pre-seasons with all three men feeling their way back to full fitness after injury.
Hopley, who was with Young at Colwyn Bay, spent nine months on the sidelines following a cruciate knee ligament injury, and the Chester chief is confident that the 25-year-old can forge a prolific partnership with Michael Wilde.
“People have said we need another goalscorer with Michael, but we don’t need another goalscorer,” explained Young.
“I am looking to bring someone in, but don’t get me wrong but that is not to replace Rob Hopley or to play alongside Michael Wilde, it is to have an additional striker at my disposal.
“Rob Hopley will score goals in this league all day, I have said it all along. People need to realise that he hadn’t kicked a ball since September last year until he came back here.
“That is why I have taken it easy with him because he has had a cruciate ligament injury and those who know people who have had cruciate ligament injuries in the past know it is not a nice one.
“You have got to make sure the rehabilitation and recuperation is all right. We have followed doctors’ instructions and surgeons’ instructions to the letter, and hopefully we have got him now nearly to where he needs to be.
“I think it might be a bit longer than people want – but come October or November...
“I saw little snippets in the first half of Wilde and Hopley linking together, they are both big strong physical lads and they will cause problems for most defences.”
Ex-Lancaster winger Sharrock has also struggled with injury since becoming one of Young’s first signings, but played 45 minutes as he makes a steady return to action.
And like Hopley, Sharrock is being backed by the man who brought him to the Deva Stadium.
“Roger for the first 20 minutes when he came on was very good,” said Young. “He got a knock on the back just after that and it winded him a little bit.
“He got a little bit sloppy, probably a little bit tired because he hasn’t done any pre-season, but in those little glimpses you can see what he will bring to the table once he is up and running.”
Young is also willing to bide his time with Andy Burgess, the ex-Luton, Oxford and Mansfield midfielder, playing 90 minutes as he looks to find peak fitness in time for the start of the season.
“Andy Burgess hasn’t played where Andy Burgess has played because he isn’t a top class football player,” declared Young.
“We are very lucky to have him here, the only thing for him at the moment, as I have said before, is that we need to get our key players games. That is why we have left him on for the full 90 minutes.
“We had a chat before the game, he tells me and it is evident from my point of view that he is nowhere near fitness wise as yet.
“Second half against FC (United) and again on Saturday you could see what Andy can bring to Chester once he is fit and up and running.
“His last ball, everyone thinks he is going to dink Roger far left and he puts a little disguised one down the side for Josh (Macauley).
“He is getting there and it might be a couple of weeks until he is up and running but again he will be a massive asset to us.”