TWO of Worcester City's rising stars are aiming to put their loan spells to good use and become better players for the experience.

Troy Wood and Gary Walker have been sent out to Gloucester City and Evesham United for a month respectively in a bid to sharpen their games.

Striker Wood has scored once in six Nationwide North appearances for City this season but has been left on the sidelines since Mark Danks' return to fitness and the arrival of Abderrahman Traore. The 19-year-old also hit the target in Worcester's 3-1 extra-time victory over Stourport Swifts in the Worcestershire Senior Cup last week.

But manager Andy Preece has decided he will do his cause no harm by aiding Gloucester's challenge at the top end of the Southern League Premier Division over the next few weeeks.

Wood featured in the Tigers' 1-1 home draw with Stamford last weekend and he is glad of the first-team minutes.

He said: "It was a good game. It's just giving me a little bit more experience and a bit more match practice.

"I played six games at the start of the season for City and it was great."

Wood also said it was his aim to return to St George's Lane later this month and fight for a first-team berth.

It is a similar story with midfielder Gary Walker, whose role in the Swifts match was his only first-team appearance of the campaign, coupled with a 17-minute spell as a substitute at Barrow on the opening day.

He has been invovled in the reserves but was told to expect a loan move following the second string's 5-3 victory against Burton Albion last month.

Walker said: "The gaffer mentioned it to me after the reserve game against Burton that he might try and get me out on loan.

"He said I was doing well in the reserves but I needed to get some competitive matches.

"I am just hoping to get used to playing more competitive games so I can go back to Worcester with some experience.

"I am pleased because I was sitting in the stands and that's not as beneficial as playing games."

Meanwhile, it has been a week to forget for Worcester City and penalty shoot-outs.

Tuesday's 7-6 FA Cup defeat against Basingstoke came hot on the heels of the youth team's 5-4 loss from the spot against Hednesford Town in the FA Youth Cup third qualifying round.

Former City midfielder Jai Stanley also got in on the act by scoring the first but missing in sudden death in AFC Telford's 11-10 defeat against Leek Town in the Unibond League Cup first round.