Paul Burton offered an update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Perth Green to face Northern League Division Two Jarrow in the FA Vase.

The Seasiders have been without Charlie Watt, Finn McKittrick and Tom Marron for a number of games, whilst James Rowe and Cam Thomson return from their own stints on the sidelines.

Disappointed by two successive losses on the road, Burton rued the absence of key figures in Marske’s Emirates FA Cup defeat to Workington on Saturday.

He admitted it was hard to compete without the likes of Charlie Watt and Tom Marron, who are unlikely to start at Perth Green this weekend as they look to return to fitness.

The boss did praise those who have stepped up to cover the roles of the absentees. He argued there had been no lack of effort, but rather a number of defensive mistakes leading to defeats to both Workington and Thornaby.

“The main thing is that we need to get our centre-forward, or a recognised striker, on the pitch,” he said.

“Tom Marron as well, the captain. We need him back in the side as he gives us that bit of defensive reassurance.

“We’re not sure about Charlie. He’s gone to see a physio. We thought he was going to be out for a while but the scans have come back clear. He is still feeling it though.

“I don’t know if he’ll be ready.

“Finn is probably four to six weeks out. He’s torn something in his thigh. Tom Marron has pulled his hamstring. He’ll be out for a couple of weeks unfortunately.

“Cam Thomson and James Rowe have just come back from injury, so it’s difficult for them in the middle of the park.

“I don’t think there was any lack of effort against Thornaby, it was just mistakes. On Saturday against Workington, they had to work extremely hard for all three goals.

“I’ve said it all the time. That’s all that we ask. For the players to go out there and work hard. To put a shift in for us.

“To take that responsibility on the pitch. We came up against a better team last weekend, and it’s as simple as that.”

Jarrow will provide a different test to that of the Northern Premier League outfit, but Burton doesn’t expect the task to be that much easier.

The boss conceded that in cup football the only ask is to win - a great leveller as Marske go from being the underdogs, to the favourites.

“I think it’ll be a difficult game,” he said.

“There is only one rule in cup football, and that’s to win and progress to the next round. We want to do that on Saturday.”