Sutton United’s first team coach Jamie Lawrence will be renewing old acquaintances when the Chelsea U21s drop by Gander Green Lane on Saturday.

United opened their pre-season schedule last weekend with a 5-1 win at Winchester City – thanks to a Marvin Williams brace, and goals from Craig Dundas and new boys Jessy Reindorf and Matt Lockwood.

This weekend is a whole different affair when the U21s Premier League champions come visiting, bringing with them U21s assistant coach Andy Myers.

Lawrence said: “Andy and I used to room when we played for Bradford City, so it will be good to catch up.

“I am hoping he can stay around for a couple of pints of Guinness afterwards.”

He added: “The U21s will be a great test for the lads, but from what I have seen on the training pitch, they will be up for the game.

“We have been pushing them incredibly hard and they have responded well.

“It was sad to see a few big names leave, but then the lads we have brought in have huge potential, and football is football, players come and they go.”

United’s coaching team was completed over the summer with the arrival of Peter Beadle from Hereford United as head coach, and Matt Lockwood from Dundee in a player/coach role.

And having finished as Skrill South runners up last term, there is only one place they can finish that would be an improvement.

Lawrence, pictured, said: “There have been a few personnel changes from last season, but we’re in no way going through a consolidation phase.

“There is not one player or member of the coaching staff that is not ambitious and does not want to push on from last season.

“We all want to play or coach at a higher level, and the day you stop wanting that, is the day you stop playing.”