THE final week of pre-season at Aldershot Town brought more additions to Gary Waddock’s squad, but they were inevitably overshadowed by the departure of 17-year-old winger Idris Kanu to Peterborough United.

Kanu had barely featured in the Shots’ six pre-season friendlies amidst rumours of a fall-out with Waddock, who admitted that the former West Ham academy graduate had been forced to train with the youth team.

It was just one of a number of problems the manager faced in July, with a number of players succumbing to injury – including Will Evans, who will miss the start of the season with a fractured toe – and Waddock struggling to recruit defensive cover.

On Wednesday morning he added centre-back Kodi Lyons-Foster to his squad, to augment the arrivals of defender Will de Havilland, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, and creative midfielder James Rowe, a former National League champion with Cheltenham Town who had given three impressive performances as a trialist.

It was hardly the ideal preparation for this Saturday’s first league fixture at newly-promoted FC Halifax Town, but Aldershot nonetheless appear quietly confident after beating the Chelsea U23 squad and earning creditable draws against Wycombe and AFC Wimbledon.

Another summer arrival, winger Bobby-Joe Taylor, scored with a fine angled drive after just 55 seconds of a lively encounter with the Dons at the EBB Stadium last Friday, only for Kwesi Appiah to equalise in the fifth minute after the Shots failed to clear a teasing cross. It finished 1-1 on a torrentially wet evening.

“It was a good performance in difficult conditions and a fantastic work-out for us,” said Waddock. “There were some very good passages of play from our guys, but we should have been more clinical in front of goal. We moved the ball around very well, but we also gave away possession too many times.”

The manager has suggested that games versus Football League opposition are a benchmark for his own squad to test themselves against and in that they have given many reasons for Shots fans to be cheerful. “I’m pleased with where we are and with what we’ve done in those games, but we’re not firing on all cylinders yet. There’s always room for improvement,” he warned as they look to at least match last season’s play-off semi-final appearance.

Several other trialists have failed to impress Waddock, who has adopted a ruthless approach to culling players who don’t match his exacting standards.

“Pre-season is always a demanding time for a manager, but you can say that about every week of the year. I want to bring in players that are better than what we have here currently, and that’s been tough. Everything takes its toll, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Shaun Okojie, scorer of 40 goals for Corinthian-Casuals last season, has been eased into full-time training after making the step-up from the Ryman League. The 6ft 4 striker should offer a different attacking option in what will remain a physically-demanding division.

Despite Kanu’s departure, Aldershot will feel that they are a stronger and more mature squad than last season, but the same will apply to many of their natural promotion rivals, including play-off final losers Tranmere Rovers, fellow semi-finalists Dagenham & Redbridge, and up to ten other teams who will fancy their chances in an increasingly competitive league.

What is certain, however, is that Aldershot Town will remain an exciting and stylish team with no thoughts towards conservatism.

Waddock’s ethos will again focus on quality rather than quantity in a small squad, but if the Shots can remain largely free of serious injury, and make another strong start to the campaign, there is no reason that they cannot remain in the mix for a return to League Two.

Ex-England U16 ready to step up

KODI Lyons-Foster, Aldershot’s latest capture, is a former England U16 international and a graduate of the Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa academies.

The 20-year-old defender joined Bristol City in June 2016 and, last December, spent one month on loan with Guernsey FC. He also had a trial with League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.

“I’ve had a good upbringing and now is my chance to take what I’ve learnt through the ranks and show that I can handle the men’s game,” said Lyons-Foster. “I’m a defender and I take pride in keeping clean sheets, but I like to get the ball down and play, and build from the back.”

While one promising young player comes in, another one goes and Idris Kanu’s abrupt departure will disappoint the expectant Shots supporters.

The versatile forward has signed a three-year contract with League One club Peterborough after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Kanu, an imposing physical specimen for his 17 years, joined Aldershot from West Ham last summer, making 32 appearances and scoring four goals. His powerful presence, speed and wizardry on the ball created many more goals and he became a firm favourite with the Shots fans.

He was believed to be Aldershot’s youngest player at 16 and youngest ever goal-scorer.

Before joining Aldershot, he had a trial at Manchester United and scored twice for the U18 side. But he rejected more high-profile offers and opted to join Aldershot where, as a first-team regular, he gained valuable experience in the tough, bruising world of the National League.

Posh manager Paul McCann told the Peterborough Telegraph. “Kanu is a big talent. I watched him last year at Aldershot and the kid has unbelievable ability. We will try and nurture him. We believe he is ready for the first team now and will work with him on the training ground to improve him.

“For such a young lad to play so many games for Aldershot speaks volumes. Credit to him, he left an academy to play league football and men’s football. There was a lot of interest in him, from Premier League clubs too, so he showed a great desire to want to sign for Peterborough United and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

James Rowe, the former Cheltenham and Tranmere midfielder, has sgned a one-year contract after playing three friendlies for Aldershot.

Wantage-born Rowe, 25, began his career in the Southampton and Reading academies and had loan spells at Oxford City, Basingstoke and Lewes before signing for Forest Green Rovers in August 2011.

Two seasons at the New Lawn brought almost 50 appearances for Rowe and, upon his release in 2013, earned him a contract with League One Tranmere.

After 18 months at Prenton Park, in which he made 36 appearances, Rowe joined Cheltenham and was part of the Robins’ side which won the National League title in 2015-16. He then played a further 38 games last season in League Two.

“I think I’ve fitted in quite nicely with the team. They play some good football here and that’s what suits me best, so it feels like a good fit,” said Rowe. “I was surprised by the standard of the boys here and the style of play.”

Central defender Will de Havilland joins the Shots on a one-month loan from Wycombe.

De Havilland, who started for the Chairboys in the pre-season friendly at Aldershot a fortnight ago, made 23 appearances in 2016-17, including 17 in the second half of the season as Gareth Ainsworth’s side made a late push towards the League Two play-offs.

The 22-year-old, who can also play at right-back, began his career at Millwall and had loan spells with Cambridge City and Histon during the 2013-14 season.

After a brief stay at Bishop’s Stortford that summer, he joined Sheffield Wednesday in August 2014. Despite the Owls extending his initial one-year contract into a second year, de Havilland left Hillsborough in June 2016 without making a first-team appearance and joined Wanderers after impressing while on trial at Adams Park.

“I really like it here – like Wycombe, it’s a very tight-knit squad and it was a good first day of training as well, quite intense,” said de Havilland.

“I hope to get some games under my belt and go back to Wycombe fully fit and hopefully challenge for a spot there.”

• Aldershot will meet Torquay United in their first home league match on Tuesday.