STRUGGLING Worcester City are looking to recruit a striker “within the next couple of weeks” to help them the avoid the drop.

However, caretaker boss John Snape insists any move will need to be “at a realistic price” for the cash-strapped Vanarama National League North outfit.

Third-from-bottom Worcester suffered a demoralising 2-0 defeat at basement side Altrincham on Saturday to leave them two points adrift of safety.

And Snape admitted they were “short of a striker” as they failed to register a shot on target during the entire match at Moss Lane.

Frontmen Lee Hughes and Colby Bishop both left the Blue and Whites earlier this month after all players were put up for transfer.

But with City facing the prospect of relegation, the club’s bosses could be prepared to temporarily loosen their purse strings to try to snap up a striker.

“We are short of a striker, but every club in the Football League is looking for that lad who is going to get them the goals,” Snape said.

“We are keen to improve and it is not for the want of trying.

“We are trying to bring a forward in, but it has to be a realistic target and at a realistic price that will make us better.”

Snape has backed the experienced Steven Craig to fire City to safety after he returned from a loan spell at Stafford Rangers last week.

But he has scored just one goal in 11 matches and did not trouble Altrincham goalkeeper Tim Deasy at the weekend.

City have also looked to their youth system, with 17-year-old striker Callum Devlin coming off the bench to make his second appearance.

But Snape added: “We can bring some of the young lads in that probably have not played at this level and will struggle with the physicality and simple pace of the game.

“Young Callum has had a taste of it again and you can see how hungry he is for it.

“But hopefully we can get somebody in within the next couple of weeks that gives us a goal threat.”

While City step up their search for a striker, Snape said he saw midfielder Junior English as a target-man up front.

The ex-Solihull Moors stalwart formed a strike partnership with Craig in the second period after defenders James Chambers and Andy Gallinagh replaced forward Jordan Murphy and winger Chekaine Steele at half-time.

“I made that change because I wanted to get Jordan Keane in the middle of the pitch,” Snape explained.

“I also wanted to get more of a target at the top end of the pitch. Junior has played up there for Solihull, so he fitted the bill with the current players that I have got.

“Chambo and Andy both came on and did OK as we looked more solid as a back four and didn’t look all at sea.

“If we play a little bit higher then hopefully we can get some more chances at the top end of the pitch where we want to be.”