Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman is hoping that some of the club’s young reserve-team players will shorten his summer shopping list.

The Humbugs’ first-team boss knows where he needs to strengthen his squad in the close season in preparation for a Thurlow Nunn League division one promotion push next year and is looking to make good use of the three remaining games of the current campaign.

That continues with a trip to Downham Town tomorrow and Benterman said he will be handing debuts to a quartet of players who have been impressing in the reserves this season.

The players coming in include 17-year-old goalkeeper Tom Williamson, who Benterman said has been in “exceptional” form for the Humbugs’ second-string this season.

And he will be joined by midfielder Jordan Snaith, right-back Brad Dix and striker Josh Palmer, who is the younger brother of former Halstead hot-shot Jordan Palmer.

It is an exciting move for all four and Benterman said the chance is there for all of them to grab.

He said: “They have stuck by us this season and all have been playing well in the reserves.

“They have all been knocking on my door and we want to give them this chance as they deserve an opportunity to progress.

“We will have a couple of (first-team) players missing anyway, so there is an element of us needing them to come in, but it’s also as a reward for them.

“I know what we need in the squad for next year, but could what we need already be here?

“These boys are all home grown and if we can find players in-house rather than bringing them in from outside then all the better.

“It’s what fans want to see.

“They could see the way that we are progressing last Saturday against Debenham and we want to get as many of our youth products coming through as we can."