Manager Jim Nichols has conceded his Penrith players are "in for a long season" as they prepare for their first home game in 2017.

The Bonny Blues welcome Newcastle Benfield to Frenchfield Park this evening (7.45pm kick-off), looking to build on last weekend's comeback win at Dunston UTS.

Top goalscorer Martyn Coleman bagged a hat-trick as Penrith came from 1-0 down at half-time to claim a 4-3 victory and Nichols praised his top scorer.

"We have scored goals all over the pitch but nobody has contributed in any sort of consistent way, other than Martyn," he said.

"I think nobody else has scored more than three, other than him."

Penrith have played the least amount of Northern League, Division One fixtures of anyone in the league, having only managed to get through 21 games so far this campaign.

Nichols said: "We have been saying for weeks, we feel we have not played a lot of games.

"It's going to be a long season and a slog for us. It's going to be approaching 60 games by the end of the season and that's a minimum.

"We are still in two cups [Penrith have a quarter-final tie at Silloth in February and a League Cup tie against South Shields later this month] and want to progress in them.

"Every mid-week, we have a game. It's a big test of character for us."

But, for now at least, Nichols has a good strength squad to choose from, and he admitted that leaves him with plenty of decisions to make.

"I had 16 training last Wednesday and six missing, which gives you an idea of the numbers I have available," he added.

"That leaves tough decisions for me to make but we would rather have too many players.

"We are going to need all of them, particularly if we are away from home twice in a week and players are unavailable.

"But the lads have been good. They are an honest bunch. The lads I have had to leave out have responded in the right way.

"None of them have sulked. They have reacted and showed the right attitude."

Newcastle Benfield come into tonight's game in 11th place, 12 points ahead of the Bonny Blues, who have five games in hand on them.

Club stalwart Will Paul will also make his 700th appearance for the club this evening.