JOINT boss Anthony Johnson says he has no problem turning to youth as injury-hit Radcliffe prepare for their first ever game in National League North on Saturday.

Boro host Scarborough Athletic at the Neuven Stadium with a lengthy injury list - including concerns over Step 3/4 Player of the Year Jordan Hulme who limped out of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with AFC Fylde.

A total of nine players missed the last pre-season friendly but Johnson said he and joint boss Bernard Morley will happily turn to the young members of his squad - although he is expecting a few to be passed fit for the season opener.

“We had nine players out…I don’t think that in 15 years I have had so many players out for a game of football,” Johnson told the club website. “But if you take the doom and gloom out of it when we can still play the way we did and such a young side that finished the game, playing our way. They understand what is expected of them.

“I have said to the senior lads, the way they have marshalled and led the younger players who have come on to the pitch was really pleasing, that was really good.

He added: “We have got loads (of injuries). Jordan (Hulme) has come off with an injury so we will just have to reflect over the next couple of days.

“Some of them are going to be long term, one or two are just niggles. We are hoping two or three of that nine will be back for the weekend but if they are not, they are not.”

He added: “You play with the hand you are dealt with. The squad is strong, we have got some fantastic young players in the building now and if we have to use them, we have to use them.” While the growing injury list has been a problem for Morley and Johnson to cope with, there have been no such setbacks in terms of pre-season results - Boro unbeaten in all six of their friendlies.

Boro trailed 1-0 at the break against National League side AFC Fylde before scoring three goals after the break - two from Jamie Morgan with Josh Hancock also on target - in an entertaining draw.

“We had a couple of decent openings ourselves (in the first half) and then second half I thought we were fantastic,” added Johnson. “The way we moved the ball about, the bodies that we got in the box, the chances we created, the pace, the tempo that we played at was really good.

“So really pleasing when you consider the last three games that we have had, that we have done on purpose, Oldham, Halifax and Fylde have all come full strength and, in my opinion, we have been the better side in all three games, it is really pleasing.”