St Albans City joint manager James Gray has admitted the club are considering bringing defender Ben Martin back to the club.

The former Saints captain moved to Boreham Wood in December and helped the side win promotion to the National League.

But Martin, who has made 212 appearances for City, is leaving Wood this summer and played for the side in Saturday's 0-0 friendly draw at Billericay Town.

Gray said: "Ben has agreed to leave Boreham Wood and has had a knee operation which went well. He came in on Saturday and was his assured self. We're trying to bring through the youngsters but sometimes you need that experience and he offers that.

"I think he's keen to come back and feels he has a point to prove. He has had a new lease of life after his operation. I think he wants to come here but I know he's not short of offers and it will depend on whether we can agree something which suits both him and us."

The Saints have completed the signing of midfielder Luke Allen. He started off in the Tottenham Hotspur academy and was with Hemel Hempstead Town last season.

It was an uneventful warm-up game on Saturday and Gray was left frustrated with the state of the pitch at Blunts Wall Road.

The Saints boss said: "If I had known how bad the pitch was then we wouldn't have played there. Our game at London Colney was called off last week because of the state of the pitch and there wasn't much difference between them.

"The pitch was such a leveller and we just couldn't get the ball down and play. It was one of those things where we didn't learn much from it. But it was still a good work out and at this stage it's all about fitness levels."

City gave a trial to Havant & Waterlooville striker Shamir Mullings but the club will not be considering signing him.

Gray said: "We are not doing anything with him. He is not somebody we will be pursuing because he's similar to what we've already got."

St Albans were beaten 3-2 at home to League Two Barnet last Tuesday at Clarence Park.

Michael Gash headed the Bees in front but the Saints equalised, with their first goal of the summer, when Simon Thomas fired home.

Michael Malcolm then fired the hosts into the lead before strikes from Shaun Batt and Jack Taylor won the game for Barnet.

Gray has admitted the side have faced a challenging set of fixtures so far this summer and is not concerned the club have only scored twice.

The Saints boss said: "It has been a tough start for us and ideally you would have hand picked teams lower down the leagues and helped build up the confidence and form. But the games against Watford and Barnet have shown we can hold our against them at times so we have seen enough positives. It is a case of starting to gel together over the next few weeks with some games we can do well in."

City faced Premier League Crystal Palace tonight and will visit Waltham Abbey this Saturday afternoon.