Three English youngsters will be among the first to take centre stage as the WTT Feeder Manchester gets under way in front of hundreds of spectators on Thursday.

Connor Green and Ben Piggott start in the qualifying draw of the Men’s Singles, and both have been drawn against Italian opposition – Green against Daniele Pinto and Piggott against Jordy Piccolin.

Wales’ Harri Docherty is in at the same stage and will play Payas Jain of India.

In the Women’s Singles, Tianer Yu has been drawn against Isa Cok of France. Jersey’s Hannah Silcock also starts on Thursday and is up against Malamatenia Papadimitriou of Greece.

Two victories will see the athletes safely through qualifying and into the main draw, which starts on Friday and features a strong cohort of established British athletes, including Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall in the men’s and Tin-Tin Ho and Wales’ Anna Hursey in the women’s.

Meanwhile, Louis Price, who was already in the doubles competitions, has received a last-minute wildcard into the singles as a replacement for Germany’s Timo Boll, who has withdrawn because of sickness.