Former skipper Ian Hendon, who "crossed the line" from being a player at the end of his contract last season to become assistant manager, will be back in action again in Tuesday's pre-season friendly at Farnborough.

 

The 35-year-old right back, registered as a player for the coming season and given squad number 20, was a 66th minute substitute against Arsenal at the weekend ... and continues his "comeback" in a side mainly composed of trialists.

 

James Cole, the 19-year-old central defender signed from PROTEC in the summer, plays at Farnborough after missing out on Arsenal with a hamstring problem. Lawrence Constanti, who played for the Bees in the Herts Senior Cup last season and was named as substitute for the League 2 visit to Torquay United, is another homegrown youngster on view.

 

David Blackmore, the 19-year-old West Ham United goalkeeper who deputised for Lee Harrison afater the interval against the Gunners, gets another chance to show what he can do on Tuesday, as do defender Michael Bostwick, former with Rushden and Diamonds, and Stefan Seanla, a forward whose last club was Kettering.

 

Manager Paul Fairclough, who said that 29-year-old Sagi Burton was outstanding in the centre of defence alongside Ismail Yakubu against Arsenal is hopeful of signing the former Shrewsbury Town and Peterborough United man this week.

 

Birmingham-born Burton, who made his debut in the Premiership with Crystal Palace in 1997, is a St Kitts and Nevis international.

 

Dennis Signy