MANCHESTER City have confirmed several members of Joe Royle's first team squad will appear in their friendly at Rossendale United tomorrow night.

Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Tommy Wright, Georgian defender Murtaz Sheila, Neil Heaney and Jim Whitley are all set to line up against Dale tomorrow (kick off 7.45pm).

United's clash against City is the first of three prestigious friendlies lined up for Micky Graham's men.

Sheffield United and Wigan are also due at Dark Lane in the next couple of weeks while games against UniBond League neighbours Accrington Stanley and Radcliffe Borough have also been arranged.

Since the arrival of new backer Andrew Connolly at the end of last season, the North Western Trains League club has undergone a transformation on and off the pitch.

Connolly, who runs a demolition business in Church, has plans to develop Dark Lane into a multi-sports and leisure complex. And work has already started on sprucing up the ground over the summer.

Former Manchester City and England star David White has been appointed club president in a bid to raise the overall profile of the club.

And manager Micky Graham has also taken steps to strengthen the playing side of things.

Graham has already signed up promising youngsters Craig Sargeson, Vinnie Patterson and Danny Heys while ex-Morecambe and Chorley duo Andy Grimshaw and Jim McCluskie are set to sign after impressing in training.

And former Manchester United junior Ross Millard, who also had a spell at Chorley last season, appeared in Tuesday night's friendly victory over Castleton Gabriels.

"The whole club has turned upside down after the problems we had last season," said Graham.

"People won't believe how much things have changed.

"Andrew Connolly has come in and done exactly what he said he was going to do and from what I can see he seems to be well on with it."

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