CHORLEY boss Jamie Vermiglio is staying positive despite injury issues hitting his preparations for the new National League season.

The Magpies put in a strong showing in their 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End on Tuesday night with their next pre-season friendly coming against Wigan’s Under-23s at Victory Park on Saturday.

All eyes are on the long-awaited return to the fifth tier against Bromley on August 3 with Vermiglio hoping to have more players available by then.

“We’re getting progressively better and against Preston, especially in the first 45 minutes we gave a really good account of ourselves,” said the Magpies boss.

“Players have been sharing 70s and 20s and 45s here and there and now we’ll be looking for them to get a few more 90s under their belts.

“Overall it was really good. Unfortunately one or two have come out with an injury.

“It looks like Jake Cottrell has fractured his finger, Courtney Meppen-Walter has come off with a knee issue, Scott Leather’s injured, Matt Urwin needs an operation, Louis Almond might need one as well and Matt Challoner could just be back for the start of the season.

“At the moment we’re not short on bodies, we’ve got enough of those, but over the next two or three weeks we need to make sure we get back to full fitness for that first game.”

Vermiglio is however feeling good ahead of the new season as the club make their long-awaited step up after their play-off triumph last season.

“It’s always important to be positive,” he said.

“We’re a positive club and the lads have all worked really hard

“Chally’s done a lot of the fitness for us and put a pre-season schedule together and I think we can see the benefits of it.

“It’s difficult to gauge yourselves against teams like Longridge and Charnock and I think it’s good when you come up against a full-time side.

“I feel proud and I feel happy with the squad that we’ve got.”

Alan Browne and Graham Burke scored the PNE goals.