Hughes to return at Wire

Mark Hughes is sending his new Stoke City charges to kick off against the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Warrington Town next month.

The First Division North's Wire became the latest NPL club on Sunday to release details of their pre-season warm-up campaign when they announced that the former Manchester City boss, pictured, had lined up an early test for his side at Cantilever Park on Tuesday 30 July.

The fixture was one of five home pre-season friendlies announced. Before facing Hughes, Town are set to host Premier Division AFC Fylde on Saturday July 20 followed by the newly formed 1874 Northwich, managed by former Warrington manager Ian Street, on Tuesday July 23.

First Division South Newcastle Town are next up on Saturday July 27 before Wire manager Shaun Reid completes his pre-season campaign on Tuesday 6 August with a home game against Premier Division Nantwich Town.

Pre-season fixtures are being added on a daily basis to the friendly fixtures service now running on the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's official website.

With preparations for the coming campaign at the Evo-Stik NPL's 68 clubs well underway, the friendly fixtures under the 'match info' tab on the home page listed more than 130 fixtures when it went live last week.

The pre-season diary passed the 200 mark on Saturday with 224 fixtures now listed. Club officials should send their updates or amendments to: dwatters@evostikleague.co.uk.

Updates on friendlies from across Non-League are also available on Pitchero's Non-League pages throughout the summer.