The Nailers will host Minnesota United on Thursday, 13 March, as part of the Americans’ preparations for their forthcoming season which gets under way in early April.

The game at Christchurch Meadow kicks off at 7.45 pm and follows Minnesota’s match at Matlock Town on Monday, 10 March.

The US visitors last game will see them take on Derby County at the iPro Stadium on Monday, 17 March.

Minnesota, who finished fourth in their division last season, begin their pre-season programme in their homeland with a trip to David Beckham’s former club LA Galaxy and another unnamed club before they come to England on 8 March.

Minnesota’s head coach, Manny Lagos, a member of the USA’s Olympic squad in 1992, is looking forward to the schedule.

He told his club’s website: “I think this is an outstanding pre-season to prepare the club for the 2014 campaign. I think we’ve put together two trips that will be both challenging and get us up to speed to start the season.”

You can view Minnesota United’s official website here

With grateful thanks to James Griffiths (Matlock Town FC) for the additional background reporting.

