USING seven goalkeepers in a single season is one of the more remarkable statistics for Worcester City.

But, with Jose Veiga still on his way back to fitness following a knee injury, that has been the unusual situation for the Blue and Whites.

It is even more astounding when you consider that Veiga has played 32 of City's 46 matches this term, leaving the other 14 fixtures split between six different keepers.

Matt Sargeant, Ryan Boot, Lewis Solly, Callum Preston and Leigh Bedwell have all started matches, while Harry Ashton was a second-half replacement for Veiga at Harrogate Town in November.

And the overall number of keepers is actually nine if you factor in former Forest Green Rovers custodian Matt Bulman and youth-teamer Sam Hawker, who have both been registered by the Skrill North outfit without featuring.

Incredibly, it hasn't disrupted Worcester anywhere near as much as you might expect with Carl Heeley's team having kept 17 clean sheets in all competitions this term.

They might be in the lower half of the division going into today's match at Leamington (3pm) but that is largely down to their failure to score enough goals rather than a porous defence.

Veiga has been the main occupant of the number one jersey and has been impressed by the way the team have adapted to the changes between the posts.

He said: "They've done a great job for the club and the team and that's what you want, for people to be able to come in a do the job.

"The team weren't really affected by it. Overall, we've managed to be really solid since the start of the season.

"The good thing is that even when we weren't winning we always managed to have a good defence and that's the spirit in the team."

The 37-year-old Portuguese missed all seven league and cup matches in March with his knee injury but is back in training.

Veiga said: "It's getting there slowly so hopefully with more training with Tamworth things will improve."