The Blues, pipped 1-0 by Hednesford in last week’s big National League North play-off battle, are back in action tomorrow with a trip to 16th-placed Brackley Town.

Manager Parkinson is confident his young players will keep on improving and he told Chester FC TV: “These are the games that, come the second part of the season, that will be the progression for me. A bit like South Shields, a bit like the Buxtons, a bit like the Morecambes.

“All them teams that are going to be in and around the play-offs, they’re the games that we’re narrowly missing out on by individual qualities - a bit that we have to do here is develop our lads to get them up to them levels.

“And with the attitude and application that they’re showing, I have no doubt we will.

“But, it’s just really, really frustrating and a horrible feeling when you’re looking at players who you know are absolutely giving you every sinew of what they are and trying every day to bridge that gap.”

The Chester squad will soon be boosted by the return of the likes of Tom Peers, Dan Ward, Ma’kel Campbell, Ben Lomax and Jack Bainbridge.

That will be a big boost for Parkinson, who is also looking at the potential of perhaps getting a new face through the door.

He added: “We’ve got a lot of players that should significantly improve us.

“It’s how long I can wait for them to return. I think I’m going to have to really look at the forward line to support the players.

“I’m going to go and watch a few players this next week and potentially try and bring someone in, if we’re able to do so.”

Chester, who have slipped to ninth spot, are six points adrift of leaders South Shields, who are at home to Southport tomorrow.

Southport are now managed by ex-Chester boss Calum McIntyre, who left Chester in February after more than three years in the Blues hot-seat.

“It’s a massive opportunity and a massive attraction,” McIntyre told the club’s YouTube channel.

“Pleased to be here and be in the home dugout and not the away dugout.

“The league position at the moment doesn’t reflect the status of the club.”

His first game in charge at Haig Avenue ended in a 2-1 home defeat to AFC Telford United and it’s a tough test for McIntyre this weekend as the second-from-bottom Sandgrounders head to the leaders.

Tomorrow’s other fixtures: AFC Telford v Spalding; Chorley v Hereford; Hednesford v Morecambe; King’s Lynn v Spennymoor; Merthyr v Hebburn; Scarborough v Buxton.