AARON Mclean will not be involved in City’s pre-season opener at Guiseley tomorrow.

The striker is nursing a slight calf strain he suffered in training and will not be risked before the squad fly out on Sunday for their week in Ireland.

Phil Parkinson’s summer recruits will all see some action at Nethermoor and the numbers will be bumped up by several trialist names.

“We’ve got a few trialists in and we will utilise those players," said the City boss.

“We will play two different 11s and the idea is to give everyone a 45-minute run-out. The lads have worked hard so far and this game is the first progression.

“There are players on trial at every club and we’ve invited a few to train with us.

“We’ve already let a couple move on but there are one or two more coming in. If we have to fly someone out to Ireland, we will do.

“It’s a chance to look at players and, who knows, someone may emerge like Carl McHugh did a couple of years ago.

“He came in on trial at first, did very well during pre-season and went on to play a significant role in the first team.”

With Mclean missing, there is better news on his strike partner James Hanson with no reported ill-effects from the back and groin problem that forced a premature end to last season.

Parkinson said: “James has been fine. He’s looked in good shape and has got through everything, so hopefully we’ve solved it.”

City still need to fill the holes at goalkeeper and on both wings. With the budget situation, Parkinson is focusing on loan recruits – and will have to bide his time until clubs free those players.

He warned: “The squad formation may not be completed until the start of the season, especially with trying to get one or two loans in.

“With the majority of those players we are talking to, the clubs concerned want them to go on their pre-season tours before making a decision. So we’re going to have to wait.

“It’s a gamble but that’s the route we are going down. Hopefully we can attract the ones we want.”

According to national reports, one of the current trialists is former Reading right back Nick Arnold. The 21-year-old played 33 games on loan at Wycombe last season.