The Isle of Man’s men’s and women’s senior teams head to Anglesey this weekend for the Huws Gray Inter-Island Games.

The six-day long competition in North Wales begins on Sunday and is being staged with football not included in July’s main Island Games in Gibraltar.

Paul Jones’s men’s squad have been hit by a couple of late withdrawals through injury. Football Writers’ Player of the Year Jack McVey hasn’t recovered from the medial knee injury suffered in the Hospital Cup final, while Peel’s Daniel Bell has been sidelined by ongoing back and hip issues.

Replacing the pair are St George’s youngsters Joel Ibanez and Joe Quayle.

Ibanez featured in the Isle of Man FA’s impressive win over Brentford B in April, while Quayle has not long returned to the island from a collegiate scholarship in the United States.

Jones said preparations have gone well: ’The lads have been training well and look sharp.

’We haven’t overworked them as we want their enthusiasm and enjoyment levels to be up for the tournament itself.’

The side begin their group B fixtures against Norwegian minnows Hitra on Monday evening. Another group game follows against Channel Island Alderney on Tuesday.

Placement matches and the semi-finals take place on Thursday with the finals on Friday.

Jones concedes that on paper the Manx side have been given a kind draw, but stated his squad shouldn’t take the their two opening fixtures lightly.

’Alderney only lost 2-0 to Jersey in the Murrati Vase semi-finals in March so we can’t take that game as a given.’

The former Rushen boss says his side will be classed among the favourites for the competition’s gold medal alongside the hosts, Jersey and Guernsey.

’If we play like we can then gold is well within our reach, but there are probably a few other sides that think that.

’Jersey have played a lot of games recently and will be sharp, while there are six of the Guernsey FC squad in the Guernsey squad.

’Anglesey have also been training very hard and have three Welsh Premier League players in their selection, with the rest coming from the Welsh second tier.’

Men’s squad: Matthew Quirk, Dean Kearns, Ryan Burns, Alex Harrison, Cameron Lee, Alex Maitland, Tom Wood, Joel Ibanez, Jacob Crook, Lee Gale, Frank Jones, Joe Quayle, Daniel Simpson, Matt Woods, Chris Bass, Furo Davies, Sean Doyle, Ashley Higginbotham, Rhys Oates, Stephen Whitley.

l In the six-team women’s tournament, the island begin their Ynys Mon campaign against Jersey on Sunday afternoon before a game against Gibraltar on Monday evening.

The semi-finals and placement matches take place on Wednesday, with the final and bronze medal match on Friday, June 21.

Brian Cowin’s island side will be among the favourites to take the title having won silver at the 2017 Games in Gotland.

Former Douglas Royal coach Cowin is confident is side will do well despite the absence of Isle of Man FA player of the year Alex Honour who has exams.

Cowin said: ’I really do believe this is one of the technically best squads I have seen from the island and I must thank Nedbank Private Wealth for all its support of women’s football in the island.

’Jersey will be are first and probably toughest game. If we can overcome them then it’s in our hands and gold will be in sight.

’The preparations have gone well so far winning both of our two pre-tournament friendlies. We produced a solid performance against newly formed Mersey Valley FC winning 4-0 thanks to goals from Casey Halsall (2), Sarah Wignall and Donna Shimmin.

’We also had a good solid performance against Accrington although they made it hard in the first half. We went in 1-0 up at half-time and produced a great second-half performance to end the game 3-1 winners.’

Women’s squad: Kayleigh Greggor, Kerri Williams, Becky Abbott, Becky Corkish, Casey Halsall, Ellie Gawne, Ella Dixon, Holly Sumner, Jade Burden, Kayleigh Georgeson, Kym Hicklin, Leanne Quayle, Lisa Costain, Melissa Bell, Sarah O’Reilly, Sarah Wignall, Shannon Groves, Tia Lisy.