Reed's ready for a taste of the action!

Veteran manager John Reed knows a thing or too about lifting his troops for the new EVO-STIK League campaign.

And the Ossett Town manager was leaving nothing to chance ahead of his side's opening day First Division North clash at home to Clitheroe on Saturday. As well putting them through their normal pre-match warm-up, Reed was also hoping to 'revitalise' his players using Herbalife’s replenishing drink Prolong.

Endorsed by the likes of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, the drink was being made available to his players at Ingfield to give their bodies the best possible chance to be at 100 per cent for kick-off.

Reed, who has managed over 2000 games in the Northern Premier League, is always willing to consider new ways of best preparing his players and said he was more than happy to give them the opportunity to use Prolong.

Reed, pictured alongside his first signing of the summer Dave Merris, said: "We know it will be a tough season this year, and certainly early season games come thick and fast, if this product will help the players raise their performance even just a few per cent then it will be a worth while experiment."

After Clitheroe Saturday, Town are on the road against Farsley AFC on Tuesday and then Warrington Town next Saturday. Two days later on Bank Holiday Monday, newly-promoted Spennymoor Town visit Ingfield leaving little rest time for the Reds.

Katie Rourke, Ossett Town’s Herbalife supplier, believes her company's drink will give Reed's squad the extra edge to get through their tough start to the campaign.

She said: "During extended or intense exercise, Prolong provides a dual-source carbohydrate blend for immediate and sustained energy. Bioavailable electrolytes help support muscle contraction and maintain a properly functioning cellular environment, while whey protein isolate helps reduce muscle breakdown, speeding recovery time. All with a subtle, easy-to-drink flavour."