NEEDHAM Market manager Danny Laws is looking to his summer signings to have an impact in their potential Boxing Day blockbuster against Leiston.

Needham head into the festive period top of Division One North of the Ryman League, and entertain their fourth-placed visitors in an all-Suffolk encounter at Bloomfields, kick-off noon.

Besides the return of ex-Needham manager Mark Morsley, who is now in charge of Leiston, both sides will have several players lining-up against their former club.

And it is because of this that Laws will be looking to those players he has signed since the summer to have a say in the outcome.

“Because of the level we are now playing at along with AFC Sudbury and Bury Town, we are now recruiting players from each other, which just adds to the rivalry.

“We have recruited several players since the summer who will be new to this rivalry – for example Ollie Fenn, Duane Wright and Jose Espinoza – and it doesn’t mean a lot to them whether we are playing Leiston or Brentwood, and this will be to our advantage.

“I will be looking to those three players to possibly be an influence on the day, along with the likes of Andrew Plummer, Darcy De’Ath and Deakan Napier, and come to the fore and surprise Leiston.”

Morsley is equally looking forward to the match and said: “I have never denied my affection for Needham Market Football Club. I have spent four years there in two spells and I am always made welcome there.

“With us coming back to draw 2-2 against Grays after being 2-0 down and Needham getting back to winning ways last Saturday, it is set up to be a good game. Although Lowestoft versus Bury is the biggest game of the day, I think our game will be a good advert for non-league football in Suffolk and could be a real humdinger.

“Obviously Needham are a very good side, but I don’t think you can go there and try to catch them on the break.

“My teams don’t sit back, and we will be going there to have a real go at them.”

Needham squad: Plummer, Pemberton, Boyland, Johnson, R Barber, Wright, Harrop, B Barber, Espinoza, Bloomfield, Thrower, Fenn, De’ath, Wilkinson, Napier, Chaplin, Evans, Wade, Morphew.