Macclesfield boss John Askey will begin whittling down his trialists during this week’s pre-season friendlies.

The Silkmen opened their pre-season campaign at Congleton on Saturday, with a side consisting mainly of youth-team players and trialists losing 2-1.

Jack Mackreth was the only first teamer involved, scoring Macc’s only goal, but Askey will rotate his squad this week and gradually bring his senior players back into the action.

After Tuesday night’s trip to Leek Town, the Silkmen are due to play at Kidsgrove Athletic tomorrow night.

Macc then face a step up in class as they travel to League One Oldham on Saturday before facing League Two Rochdale next Tuesday in one of three friendlies at the Moss Rose.

“It’s always better to look at players in this sort of game than it is in training,” Askey said after the Congleton defeat. “We were looking at one or two players and for the younger ones to try to impress, and it did its job.

“We’ve got a lot of games coming up so that’s why I only played Jack out of the players who have already signed. It’ll be the start of things for them this week.”

As reported in last week’s Express, midfielders Paul Turnbull and Danny Rowe were both on trial with Macc but Rowe, who played for Barrow last season, was the only one to feature at Congleton.

Also in the starting line-up were centre-half Steve Williams, striker Scott Boden and former Macc midfielder Jordan

Hadfield, now 25, who spent last term with Ashton United.

Williams, 26, scored for Bradford against Macc in October 2009 and played against the Silkmen while on loan at Barrow in March.

Boden, 23, spent a month on loan at the Moss Rose in 2011 and was released by Chesterfield at the end of last season.

But with this year’s playing budget being so tight, Askey is making sure he gets a proper look at his trialists before offering any a contract for this term.

“There’s no need to rush,” said Askey. “It’s up to them now to go and prove what they can do. I wouldn’t say anybody jumped out at me on Saturday but when we get them playing with the lads who are signed up perhaps they’ll show a little bit better.”