The new football season is finally here, and as Macclesfield start a new chapter in English football’s fifth tier, manager Steve King says his squad is still being assembled.

A host of trialists featured in Macc’s pre-season programme alongside new signings and a handful of familiar faces, and the boss is still working to finalise his squad ahead of this Friday’s big kick-off at Hereford United.

"I’m still a bit in the dark myself with a few lads who are likely to be leaving," he said. "I’m still looking at players, and I’m trying to offer something to some of the trialists.

"Moves are unfolding for me to bring in new players and there are players who won’t feature for me so some will be leaving the club. I still think we’re a little bit short and that’s something I’m trying to address."

Macc completed their summer fixtures with a 2-0 win over FC United on Saturday and King said afterwards: "I think I know in my head who my first starting XI will be, I wouldn’t say I’m looking for one starting XI, I want to find the best system for the best XI for any given game.

"We will be going out to attack in every game and aiming to win. I don’t know any other way than to be attack-minded."

And with a date at Edgar Street to kick off the campaign, King has no fears about embarking on the new era at the home of the other side to take the drop from League Two last season.

"We’ve had them watched and we know they’ll be big, strong and organised and it’ll be a tough game. Everybody will be out to get a good start so we have to make sure we turn up and cause them problems."