Manager Steve King will have no issues if he has to call upon Deal’s new youth-team players.

As the Hoops prepare to kick-off their season and then begin their hotly-anticipated Isthmian South East campaign following promotion, the club have formed an under-23s side this summer to replace their successful Kent County League reserve team.

Many of their youngsters have been involved in Deal’s first-team squad in their warm-up games and one of them, Jem Saldinado, completed the scoring in their 3-0 weekend home win against Faversham Strike Force to round off a perfect pre-season in style.

“They’re very good players,” said King. “They just need to be patient.

"They’re the future of the football club. We understand - with our location - we have to produce our own players if we want to stay at this level and be stable for a period of time.

“I’ve been lucky enough to know a batch of local players, like Tom Chapman and Ashley Miller, who have come to the club over a period of time - but we need to produce more of our own, as well.

“Jamie Kennedy did really well last year and Max Niblett, although he’s at university at the minute, is really promising.

“If we have to use them, there will be no issues at all. The under-23s have a really good platform in their [Southern Counties East Development] league.

“They have got some really bright futures.”

The Hoops conceded just seven times in eight pre-season games - including once in a 2-1 away win over Isthmian Premier Folkestone last Tuesday - while they netted on 24 occasions.

Midfielder Macaulay Murray and forward Jamie Kennedy both found the target at Cheriton Road.

But King said: “For me, two things define a great pre-season.

“One is not picking up injuries. Don’t get me wrong, we have picked up some - but nothing major.

“The second thing is putting in good performances. If you’re performing, you have got a greater chance of winning games.

“But we have played six games against lower-league teams and Gillingham brought a young side. Then, we did beat Folkestone last week.

“We have mostly beaten sides that we should beat - it’s not exactly like we’re turning over National League sides - but we have been pleased.”

King’s men will begin their campaign at home to Roffey, promoted to the Southern Combination Premier Division last term, in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Saturday. They started their competitive campaign with a goalless draw against Wick.

“I have been to watch them,” revealed the Deal boss, whose side will earn £1,125 if they get through.

“We have done our homework - but it’s harder at the start of the season.

“You can watch teams during their pre-season but they could have players on holiday. They have got the slight advantage of having played competitive games, as well.

“They, obviously, had a promotion last year and comfortably won their league. They have got nothing to lose.

“We have been underdogs many times - and absolutely loved it. Now, we need to manage that expectation when we’re expected to win.”

Deal’s management team still have some calls to make but are fairly settled on their first competitive starting line-up.

King explained: “We’re pretty much there.

“We have got a couple of players away and a few injury doubts, but we will still have a strong side.

“Everyone knows August in non-league football is difficult at times with holidays and weddings.

“But we have got good depth. We finished Saturday with pretty much an under-23 side. We still have got one or two decisions to make.

“We know it will be very tough.”

The Hoops are also set to start the league season on home soil against Lancing seven days later and King is optimistic those who saw them to title glory last term will be back.

“If you look at our pre-season crowds, we have had between 250 and 350,” he said. “We were averaging 350 in the league two or three years ago!

“Our plan is to put out a team that represents them.

“But provided we’re competitive, I think they will stay.”

Deal have been drawn at home to Sittingbourne in the Kent Senior Cup first round. The tie has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 24.

Dover went down 4-2 at home against National League South Tonbridge last weekend despite goals from midfielder Luke Baptiste and striker George Nikaj.

They welcome Isthmian South East Lancing to Crabble for their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Whites have been handed a first-round Kent Senior Cup bye and will host either Cray Valley or Ashford in round two.