CARL Heeley might be tempted to knee-cap a few of his team-mates this weekend if City show any signs of returning to full strength.

Heeley believes City have turned in their best performances when up against it on the injury front and who can argue after Saturday's 6-0 humbling of Salisbury City.

The full extent of the injury crisis only became apparent to Heeley on Thursday night when he glanced round the changing rooms and realised a sizeable chunk of the squad was absent.

"I couldn't even count 11 players that's when I knew it was bad and you only have to look at the bench to see how far down to the bare bones we were," he said.

"We had a goalkeeper, Andy Ellis who is still not fully fit and Matt Stock a youth team player.

"But strangely enough I think we have turned in our best performances when the injury situations have been at their worst."

Monday night's training session was reserved for injured players -- fit players (all three of them) were allowed a night off -- but there was some encouraging news for City manager John Barton.

Mark Shepherd and Allan Davies came through work-outs on their injured hamstrings, with no reaction, while Andy Ellis, Leon Jackson, Ian Cottrill, Darren Middleton and Chris Greenman all took part.

Cottrill and Greenman are expected to play for the reserves in the Worcestershire Senior Urn against Pegasus Juniors at St George's Lane next Wednesday, while Jackson may also feature.

Heeley, who sustained bruising and swelling to his foot, and a slight ankle strain, expects to be fit for Saturday's trip to Hednesford Town.

Paul Carty picked up his fifth booking of the season in the Salisbury game and will be suspended for the home clash with Folkestone on January 26.

Vying for top position in the yellow cards table are Darren Bullock (seven), Jon Holloway (six), Carty and Leon Jackson (five) and Phil Stant (four).

City have had four red cards this season -- Shepherd, Davies, Holloway and Martin Weir.

It was cheering to see Mark Owen jogging across the St George's Lane pitch at the weekend. Incredibly he is still joint second top scorer in the Dr Martens Premier Division just one behind Weymouth's David Law and level with Havant's James Taylor on 14 goals.

Owen's progress in his recovery from a broken leg prompted one extremely enthusiastic and optimistic young supporter, aged about six, to shout before kick off 'Are you playing today Mark?' We wish son!