DAVID Hopkin says the Ton development squad will be an important part of his plans over the course of the season — including player/coach John Sutton.

Sutton recently came out of retirement to pen a one year contract with the first team after a year out of the game.
He was joined by four of his youngsters — Alexander Easdale, Lewis McGrattan, pictured, Ben Eardley and Darren Hynes — in the matchday squad for the weekend pre-season trip to Forfar.

Hopkin was impressed as Easdale and Sutton made their debuts for the Ton in the 1-0 defeat.

He told the Tele: “It was a typical pre-season game but the fitness levels were good and we’ve been able to give some of the kids a run out too.

“The development squad arrived quite late back from Portugal and I brought four of them up with me as it was our first game and we needed a lot of players since we had a few trialists in the squad.

“They did well in their training camp in Portugal and trained well so it was important that we got them involved because they will be used at some point during the season.

“John came on and did really well in his first game in over a year.

“He’s kept himself in great shape and he’ll get better for us.

“He holds the ball up well and does everything you can ask from him as your target man.”