BRENTFORD'S new boss Wally Downes will be giving trialist striker Leon Constantine and youngsters from last season's reserve team the chance to prove themselves in the Kingstonian pre-season four-team tournament at Kingsmeadow this weekend (writes TONY FLOOD).

But he will also be expecting experienced midfield ace Martin Rowlands to show that he is fully fit following last season's injury problems.

Downes says: "I'll be having a look at Constantine, who has been released by Millwall, by playing him in our first two pre-season games this Saturday and Sunday. We need a replacement following Lloyd Owusu's departure to Sheffield Wednesday, but it will be hard to find another Owusu."

The remainder of last season's first team squad and outstanding reserves will also be included against Ryman League Premier Division side Aldershot Town at Kingsmeadow on Saturday (k.o. 11.30 a.m.) and against either Kingstonian or Darlington on Sunday.

This will give youngsters like Jay Tabb, Jay Smith and Matty Somner the opportunity to break into the Brentford first team.

Downes comments: "I may need to bring in two or three players and utilise the loan system because we have no money to spend. But the existing players will be given their chance first and everyone will get a game at Kingstonian this weekend.

"Most of our remaining squad are youngsters as we have lost Ivor Ingimarsson, Paul Evans and loan players Ben Burgess and Steve Sidwell in addition to Owusu. But we have some exciting prospects in teenage striker Jay Tabb, midfielder Jay Smith and defender Matty Somner.

"Striker Kevin O'Connor and winger Mark Williams have already tasted first team football - now they have the opportunity to climb off the substitutes' bench and force me to put their names on the team sheet each week.

"A lot of our players are just babies. Even goalkeeper Paul Smith, who took over from 34-year-old Oli Gottskalksson as first choice last season, is only 22."

Gottskalksson is on the transfer list, together with striker Mark McCammon and centre-half Scott Marshall, who was ruled out for all of last season due to a back injury, but is now back in training.

So Downes is looking to them and his other four senior professionals, Rowlands, centre-half Darren Powell, defender Michael Dobson and left-back Ijah Anderson to set an example to the kids.

Rowlands' first task is to prove his fitness. Downes declares: "Martin suffered with a severe groin strain last season and often played in pain. I want to be able to pick him, but if he is not fit enough I won't."

Hosts Kingstonian face Darlington in the other tournament match on Saturday at 3 p.m. Then on Sunday there is a third place play-off at 11.30 a.m. and the final is at 3 p.m. The next Brentford game is at home to Watford on Tuesday July 16th (k.o. 7.45 p.m.), while on Saturday July 20th Bees are away to Maidenhead United (k.o. 3 p.m.).

July 16, 2002 11:00