STEETON manager Roy Mason believes new striker Immanuel Kinuthia can help push his side up the table this season.

The Chevrons have had a difficult start to their North West Counties First Division North campaign, sitting bottom having only scored 20 goals in their 13 matches.

Mason has reacted by bringing in former Silsden coach Brian Blackwell into the fold and adding extra firepower up front with the signing of Kinuthuia.

The striker was brought in from the Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA), a system co-founded by Bradford City legend Mark Ellis.

Based in Leeds, the scheme offers promising young players the chance to combine studying for a degree with the opportunity to develop as footballers in an academy environment. Top striker Nahki Wells was involved in the RIASA programme before making his name with Bradford City.

Despite only signing on Friday, Kinuthia came off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Atherton LR as the 20th-placed side remained unbeaten for the third game in a row.

Mason is confident that his new forward can help reverse his team's fortunes in what has been a disappointing first half to the season.

The Steeton boss said: "He came on for us in the last half an hour and it was difficult for him to get into the game.

"He had only met the lads for the first time before the match so he had not had a chance to train or see how we play.

"Mark Ellis is someone I have know for a lot of years and I trust his judgement.

"Immanuel has got pace and knows where the net is so once he finds his feet, I'm sure he will be among the goals for us.

"We are not blessed with strikers at the moment so it is nice to bring someone in that area."

Steeton are still in the process of securing a new base for next season following the end of their agreement with Keighley Cougars to play at their ground.

The club hope to have some positive news on that by the end of this week but Mason admits the extra burden of finding a new home has taken its toll.

He said: "It's easy to make excuses but with the off-field uncertainty which we have had from last season, we weren’t sure about our future.

"It has made things difficult for us. We haven't got a big committee, you have got loads of jobs when you are a manager at this level.

"You get involved in more things then a pro manager does. I have been looking at the venues and how we can progress.

"While you're doing things like that you’re not 100 per cent on the football side of things, so it will be nice if we can get a secure venue sorted out for the future."

Steeton travel to eight-placed Holker Old Boys at the weekend in what promises to be another tough fixture on the road to survival.

However, Mason is optimistic that his side are now good enough to start moving up the league.

He said: "There is still a lot of points still to play for. I believe if I had the squad of players that I have now at the start of the season, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are in.

"We have had some horrendous luck with injuries this season with four or five big players still out. I have never seen anything like it at this level.

"The lads’ confidence is now growing and it shows how much we have come on because they were gutted that we couldn’t hold out (against Atherton).

"If we can be a bit more clinical in that final third then results will come for us.

"It is a really tight league, any team can beat anybody. If we are on our game, apart from AFC Liverpool who have been the impressive side this year, I don’t think we have played anyone who are head and shoulders above us."