Wanderers continue their pre-season build-up at Carlisle United on Saturday.
The trip to Brunton Park will be a first public work-out for Ian Evatt’s men against EFL opposition after training-ground games against Championship sides Wigan Athletic and Watford in the past week.
The Whites – who produced an impressive performance to win 2-0 at Watford – also had a behind-closed-doors work-out against Stockport County earlier this month and will face further League Two opposition in Carlisle.
The Cumbrians – led to EFL safety last season by returning manager Paul Simpson – have made an unbeaten start to their pre-season programme with a 1-1 draw against Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton in their last outing.
Wanderers’ boss Ian Evatt is looking forward to another varied test in his planning ahead of the new League One season, which is just a fortnight away.
And the trip north will also mean a reunion for a number of members of the Whites’ squad.
Whitehaven-born midfielder Kyle Dempsey started his League career with Carlisle as one of the club’s top home-grown talents, while on-loan goalkeeper James Trafford spent his formative years at Brunton Park before moving to Manchester City’s Academy.
Carlisle was Jack Iredale’s first English club, with the Australian defender making 30 appearances for the Cumbrians in the 2019/20 season before moving to Cambridge United and then Wanderers this summer.
And Whites’ defender Gethin Jones is also looking forward to a return to a former club after playing alongside Iredale at Brunton Park.
“My time there was really good,” said Jones, who played 37 times for the Blues before joining Wanderers in August, 2020.
“It was cut short with Covid but it was a time for me where I just wanted to enjoy my football again.
“Things didn’t work out at Fleetwood and I just wanted to go out and play.
“Carlisle did that for me and I really enjoyed my time there.
“The gaffer then came here and wanted to sign but I was thankful with how Carlisle treated me up there.
“I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to going back up there.”
Wanderers' supporters can pay on the day at Carlisle with all details HERE