Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick is hoping his squad of players can stay free of injury and suspensions in what will be a hectic run-in to the season.

The Lions have done so well in the current campaign to lie second in the Blue Square Bet North. It is easy to forget they only gained promotion last May, when they were crowned champions of the then UniBond League Premier Division.

Guiseley are not an established club in the Conference League structure and consequently they do not have the biggest pool of players. Many of their rivals have more resources and bigger squads.

Those minor problems have not concerned Kittrick this term but he did see an unusually flat performance from his charges in midweek, although the 3-2 win over lowly Hinckley United did lift the Lions back into second position.

Kittrick said: “I thought there were a lot of tired legs and because of that we didn’t play to our full potential. We got the win though and they were three very good goals from our boys.

“Hinckley only got to the ground at about 7.15 because of traffic, so they were in and out of the dressing rooms.

“I spoke to their manager and said it had happened to us at times and sometimes it can be a good thing. You just go out there and get started. They certainly did that because they took the lead in the 11th minute.”

Kittrick has drafted striker Danny Forrest in on loan but that is the only addition he feels is necessary at the moment.

The locally-born player began his career at Valley Parade and played for Halifax Town (pre-reformation) but is currently with Conference Premier outfit Barrow.

Kittrick gave Forrest his Guiseley debut against Hinckley, saying: “It was difficult for him because we didn’t start well.

“He had a very good 20-minute spell once he got settled and came close to scoring a couple of times early in the second half. He hasn’t had a lot of football lately, so he was feeling the pace, but he will do well for us.

“I’m not looking to bring people in just for the sake of it because I’m very happy with what we’ve got.

“The only thing is that we have some players with aches and pains and a couple of niggling injuries, but that’s not surprising after two very tough games.

“Those big games are coming along thick and fast now, so the players have to be ready for it.”