Steadman was left disappointed by his side's 1-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Jarrow Roofing in the Durham Challenge Cup on Wednesday night.

A crowd in excess of 200 saw the Mariners put in a poor performance in a competition they had high hopes of progressing far in.

Steadman said: "It was a poor game, and very disappointing. We just didn't turn up on the night.

"I thought we could have done something in that cup, but it wasn't to be, and we've missed out on a home draw against Shildon in the next round.

"But I learned a few things on Wednesday night.

"We will have a few players back, and they will come straight in."

Captain Lee Paul Scroggins, winger Tony Coe, defender Michael Rodenby and goalkeeper Niki Lawson are all available, and could start tomorrow when Shields host Northern League Division One title favourites Whitley Bay.

David Graham and Tony Stephenson miss out through suspension, however.
Shields couldn't have picked a much tougher game to try and bounce back from, but Steadman insists it could be for the best.

The FA Vase holders beat Shields 5-3 in the return fixture last month, with the Mariners competing well after being over-ran in the early stages.

Steadman added: "It could be the right game for us to try and put things right in.

"We usually do all right and raise our level against the better teams.

"The players we've got coming back will give us all a lift - myself included."

Steadman, meanwhile, will step up his efforts to improve his squad in the next few days, and is in talks with a player who could join the club by the weekend.

Goalkeeper Andy Clark, however, could be leaving Filtrona Park after the arrival of Lawson from Spennymoor saw him lose his spot as No 1.

Clark could return to Dunston, the club Shields signed him from.