Workington Reds will take to a 3G surface for the first time this summer when they travel to take on Consett today (3pm kickoff).

Manager Danny Grainger has a 16-man squad at his disposal for the trip to the Belle View Stadium this afternoon, including youngster Eli Demetriou after his appearance for Reds' reserves on Thursday night.

New strength and conditioning coach Lee Fearn has been preparing the players for the season and is excited to be back in football after linking up with Grainger.

Fearn, who was at Carlisle United for four years until 2018, worked with Grainger during his time with the Blues.

Speaking to Reds' website, he said: "I finished at Carlisle over a year ago now, and you miss it when you’re not involved.

"It’s a certain type of environment that you get kind of get addicted to and it’s a just a pleasure to be back involved.

"Hopefully, I’ll be helping out Danny and I’m trying to do what I can to help the boys and make the season successful.

"He knows my ethos and my values and that’s never changed.

"It’s the person I am, I take pride in my work.

"I said it when I left Carlisle, Danny was a fantastic captain to work with and we tried to work together in what we were building in the dressing room.

"He’s made that transition [to manager] and been fantastic at Workington, so I’m excited to be involved and excited to see how he develops.

"I’m sure he’ll do fantastic here and for the rest of his career."

Fearn was hired by former Carlisle boss Graham Kavanagh and was part of United's medical team which was named the best in League Two in 2016.

"I've worked at every level in football and one thing that I’ve always maintained is that your principles should stay the same," he said.

"What makes the top teams successful – the principles behind them – should remain consistent, whatever level you’re at.

"I’ve tried to keep the same philosophy around workrate and preparation and that’s now no different.

"The only difference is that we’re trying to get the most out of maybe two days of training compared to five or six days a week.

"The content and what we try to deliver to them doesn’t change.

"We have to take in mind that players here have other jobs and livelihoods to maintain but how we try to care for them is no different to any level of football.

"I think, in a nutshell, what I’m trying to do is bring my experience from different levels of various sports and bring that knowledge to this level to support them like I would at any other.”