Isle of Man’s under-21 netball squad begins it preparations for World Youth Cup qualifying in Hertfordshire this weekend.

The Manx side head to southern England for a match-play series against Gibraltar, the Army and Superleague outfit, Saracens Mavericks under-17s.

Coach Ashley Hall has introduced some new players into the squad and making their first appearance in this age group are circle-attacker Becca Cooke and mid-courter Holly Burgess.

After representing the island in this age group for the first time last year, Olivia Jacklin-Chatha, Fern Christian and Cassidy Pizzey will again join the rest of the squad of Angela Aumonier, Alice Cross, Heather Parsons, Lexa Hattersley, Alex Johnston and Zoe Kirkham.

Hall added: ’It is an exciting year for the u21s which culminates in October with the World Youth Cup Qualifying competition in Glasgow.

’There we will meet world-class opposition in the form of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

’It is important that we start to build a tournament squad that will be in age group, not only for qualifying, but also the World Youth Cup finals in June 2021, should we qualify.

’The squad will need to be experienced in playing together as a unit and be able to adapt their game to whichever seven are on court at any given time.’