King’s Lynn Town will have a new signing in their ranks when they travel to South Shields in the National League North tomorrow.
The Linnets have done their second piece of business with League One Fleetwood Town by bringing in teenage defender Billy Jones.
Jones’ arrival comes hot on the heels of George Morrison, who enjoyed a fine debut in Lynn’s excellent 2-1 victory over Darlington last weekend.
The 18-year-old was involved with the Fleetwood Town first-team last season as he was on the bench for Town’s fixtures away at Sheffield Wednesday in League One as well as for the Emirates FA Cup clash at Hillsborough.
Jones also featured in all of Town’s Under-18s FA Youth Cup matches last season, helping Mark Yeates’s side reach the Fifth Round of the competition, seeing wins over Carlisle United, Stockport County, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
The youngster, who is very quick and powerful, can play anywhere down the left and right flanks.
Fresh from their 2-1 victory at Darlington last weekend, Adam Lakeland’s side will be out to get another positive result in the North-East.
But they face a tough task as South Shields are unbeaten at home since March and have won five of their six league games at the 1st Cloud Arena this season.
Lynn will have full-back Kian Ronan available for selection after the Gibraltar defender featured in two 4-0 defeats against the Republic of Ireland and Wales this week as well as Harry Twite and new signing Jones.
Striker Jordan Ponticelli remains doubtful with a muscle problem in his right leg while Adam Crowther will serve a one-match suspension.
Linnets boss Lakeland said: “We’ve had another good week of training and spirits in the camp have been good following a good win at Darlington last week.
“It’s frustrating to be without Adam Crowther following his dismissal last weekend.
“I felt the yellow cards were incredibly soft. It’s one thing applying these new directives and another using an aspect of common sense, and unfortunately for us and Adam that wasn’t the case.
“It’s good to have Kian and Harry back following international duty, and the addition of Billy Jones will make us stronger going into what will be a difficult game at South Shields.”
South Shields defeated Whitby Town 1-0 to clinch the Northern Premier League title to earn promotion to the National League North this season.
Ex-Football League players such as Tom Broadbent, Blair Adams, Gary Liddle, Lewis Alessandra and Michael Woods were key figures in their promotion, helping South Shields to 24 wins from 40 games.
Former England striker Kevin Phillips left the club by mutual consent after leading the team to promotion and was replaced in the hot seat by former Sunderland and Middlesbrough favourite Julio Arca.
Arca secured three promotions in as many seasons as a player with the Mariners and also skippered the team to FA Vase glory at Wembley as the Mariners won a historic quadruple of trophies in 2016-17.
The Argentinean is enjoying his first spell in management as he rejoins a club he represented with distinction between 2015 and 2018.
Former Spennymoor Town frontman Paul Blackett tops the South Shields scoring charts with four goals.
