WORCESTER City manager Carl Heeley is optimistic he can fill the void left by Tom Thorley’s shock depature before tomorrow’s trip to Harrogate Town (3pm).

The Aggborough-based club’s boss expects to sign ‘one or two’ new players today and they would go straight into his squad for the trip north to the CNG Stadium.

Thorley dropped a bombshell on City by opting to quit the club for Skrill North leaders Hednesford Town but his departure has clearly freed up funds for Heeley.

The City manager said: “I have not found anyone at the moment, but I am confident we will be able to include a couple of new players in our squad for the Harrogate game.

“Sometimes these things take time to finalise and there have been a number of setbacks with a couple I thought we had signed only for the deal to fall through.

“However, I am confident we can bring in one — maybe two — new players ahead of this weekend’s game.

“I desperately need a central midfielder — we have a couple of people who could play there but I am looking for a like-for-like replacement for Tom.

“The problem is it can be difficult to get players in when the early stages of the FA Cup and the FA Trophy are still going on.”

Although Harrogate are only 12th in the table, they go into tomorrow’s clash in good form having added a 1-0 win over Bradford Park Avenue in the West Riding County Cup on Monday to back-to-back league wins.

Heeley added: “Harrogate have a good, settled squad of players and they have been able to add more quality to that which is a massive help.

“They have spent a lot of money levelling out their pitch after having a lot of problems with it last season but it is sorted now and it will be a tough game for us.

“However, we have been a tough nut to crack at times and need to go there and try to nick a couple of goals.”

Midfielder Richard Taundry should be available as he continues to play through the pain barrier with a thigh problem, while Heeley expects Shabir Khan to be fit for at least one of City’s next two games.

Harrogate midfielder Michael Woods (Achilles) is out, while strikers Ashley Worsfold and Paul Beesley and centre-half Shane Killock are doubtful, but defender Leigh Franks returns after a one-match ban.