Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger is considering the merits of two former Carlisle United players on trial.

The Borough Park manager fielded Lewis Boyd and Connor Hammell in their 3-0 pre-season friendly defeat to the Blues.

Grainger says he will speak to goalkeeper Boyd this week about his situation, while midfielder Hammell will remain with the club for their forthcoming games.

“Lewis I’ll sit down with this week, have a chat and see what he wants to do,” said Grainger of the ex-Carlisle youth team No1.

“I’m not sure if he wants to commit to Saturdays, but at the moment he’s training with us and helping us out.

“With Connor, we’ll probably see him in the next two games and make sure we make a decision so we don’t lead him on if we’re not going to keep him, or give him the good news if we are going to keep him.”

Boyd and Hammell - the latter having been with Cleator Moor Celtic last season, and who came off the bench in Saturday's second half - got their chance at a time Workington are without a number of key men.

Grainger was pleased with the way his side went up against Paul Simpson’s League One visitors despite the three-goal defeat.

“It was probably what I expected,” he said. “A tough test against a very well-drilled, organised and fit team.

News and Star: Lewis Boyd, the former United youth keeper, faced his former club on SaturdayLewis Boyd, the former United youth keeper, faced his former club on Saturday (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“I’m happy with what I’ve had out of the boys; disappointed with a couple of elements of it but nothing that’s alarming for me.”

Grainger said he would always stick to his side’s passing principles despite the pressure Reds came under from his former club.

“We were playing against a team that is renowned for their pressing intensity at the top end of the pitch, but that’s how we play,” he said. “I’m very stubborn when it comes to stuff like that.

“It’s making sure we know what we’re doing with it, and that’s the stuff we’ll iron out over the next few weeks.

“Without creating many clear-cut chances I was really happy with passages of play in a lot of the game, and the bravery we showed.

“It comes down to the difference in levels. Carlisle very rarely gave the ball away under no pressure, and we did a couple of times, but that’s no disrespect to anybody.

“There was a period after the third goal where we could have crumbled but instead we got our foot back on the ball, and dominated the ball for four or five minutes which was really pleasing.

“And we got minutes in the legs of a lot of the players against a very good League One team.”

Grainger handed a debut to Oldham Athletic loan signing Kofi Moore and said of the new boy: “I’m over the moon with him – he showed some glimpses of what he’s going to bring to the team.

“In this period of games we’ve had Dumbarton who were starting their season [on Saturday] and were fully fit, Morecambe didn’t happen, and Carlisle United.

“I knew these games would throw up that tough opponent side of it that we’re not used to. We now go into a batch of games against people in and around our level, and that’s where we’ll learn more about our lads in terms of in possession, reactions and things like that.”

Workington go to Carlisle City on Tuesday and Whitley Bay next Saturday, with Grainger hoping forward Scott Allison will be involved in both despite having to be replaced before half-time against United.

“He was just under the weather, felt a bit sick – he thought he could get to half-time but unfortunately he couldn’t,” said Grainger.

“I’ve spoken to him and fingers crossed he’ll be alright for Tuesday night.”