REDDITCH United will be playing in the Nationwide Conference next season.

That's the bold prediction of former Peterborough and Birmingham City defender Simon Rea as he completed his month's loan at the Valley Stadium.

Rea signed off with an injury time equaliser for the Reds in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hyde United.

And he said if the team continued to show the same spirit for the rest of the season then they should avoid the drop.

"They are a great bunch of lads with a never-say-die attitude - the same as the two managers," the 29-year-old defender said.

"There is a good atmosphere and with an attitude like that I can't see them going down. As long as they keep believing in themselves and put in as much effort as they have been doing then they should be ok."

Rea has played a vital role in United's impressive run of form - just one defeat in the six games in which he has played.

"It has been a good month and we have been on a bit of a run after the Stafford game.

"I have my match fitness back and appreciate Gary (Whild) and Kim (Casey) giving me the opportunity. But now I'm going back to Nuneaton where I hope to figure in their promotion push."

Rea's departure is likely to mean a first start for new signing Vaughan Thomas on Saturday.

The defender made a brief appearance as a second half substitute at Worcester City last week and his manager believes he is cut out for United's run-in.

"He certainly looks the part and fits the bill perfectly," Whild explained.

"He has played alongside Mark Creighton and Damian Whitcombe before and I'm looking forward to seeing him play a full 90 minutes as he looked good when he came on at Worcester."

The Reds head to Kettering Town this weekend hoping to extend their unbeaten run to six games.

Goals from Jermaine Clarke and Scott Rickards gave Redditch a 2-1 victory over Paul Gascoigne's Poppies back in November but the Rockingham Road side has gone through a number of changes since then including Gazza's much-publicised departure.

There is likely to be a big crowd for Saturday's game but the Reds' manager believes his players will be fired up for the task.

"We showed at the Worcester game that we can play in front of a big crowd," Whild said.

"I have had a look at their team and there are three or four names which i don't recognise.

"They seem to be bringing new players in each week and they looked to have four out-and-out strikers in the side last week."

Young winger Michael McGrath has left the club in his search for first team football and Whild is hoping to find a ready-made replacement in former Redditch midfielder Dominic Reece.

Reece has spent the season with Southern League side Willenhall Town but also had spells in the Conference with Hednesford Town, Woking and Farnborough Town.