Ely City manager Brady Stone is confident of signing two more players before the end of the week to ensure his side is fully prepared for a quick return to the Thurlow Nunn Premier League.

Paul Summerskill became the third new face at the Unwin Ground this week, joining from Kershaw Premier League side Cottenham United.

He follows last week’s signings of Jack Saunders, from Wisbech St Mary, and Craig Neal, from Soham United.

Stone said: “Paul is a very versatile player – he can play left back or right back and in central midfield. He brings a lot of experience from the Kershaw Premier League and he knows most of the players already so has fitted in well.

“We have signed three players now and should be making two more this week, bringing us to five which is what we targeted (before pre-season).”

Ely were due to play a Histon XI last night, with nine changes from the side that performed well in the 1-0 defeat against Cambridge City last week.

Tomorrow, they play their annual friendly against East Cambs rivals Soham Town Rangers, with a further nine changes expected.

Stone said: “We want to give everyone in the squad some game time before the new season, then trim the squad for the final two games (home to Dersingham Rovers next Tuesday and at Thetford Town on August 4) to concentrate on 15 or 16 players.

“We played really well against Cambridge. I spoke to Gary Roberts (Cambridge City manager) after the game and said how far we had come, keeping the squad together and adding some fantastic players.”

Ely were given a tasty season opener this week when the Thurlow Nunn First Division fixtures were released – a home fixture with King’s Lynn Town Reserves on August 11.

Stone said: “I know them quite well – I played them for a couple of seasons and know a few of the lads. It won’t be an easy start but we might as well get them out of the way early.”

Their second home game of the season is also a home derby, against Downham Town on August 21.

Between those games, the Robins travel to Holbeach United in the FA Cup extra-preliminary round (August 15).