INJURY-hit Worcester City are working hard to sign a centre-back on loan ahead of tomorrow's Bank Holiday clash against Brackley Town (3pm).

The Blue and Whites are likely to arrive at Aggborough with 19-year-old Kieran Morris as their only fit central defender.

Wayne Thomas (hamstring) and Tom Sharpe (calf) both picked up injuries during City’s 1-0 win over Gloucester City on Boxing Day, while Alex Gudger (ankle) remains sidelined.

Joint-manager Carl Heeley admitted the situation had left them with no option but to look at the loan market to see if a move could be pushed through.

“I think Wayne, Tom and Alex will all be missing tomorrow, which is frustrating,” he said.

“But that’s football and we have got to deal with the situation. I thought Kieran did ever so well against Gloucester.

“We decided to go for experience but he was professional about it and when we needed him he has come on and done a job for us, so we coped really well.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game.

“But we might have a look to see if anybody is available on loan.

“It is tough to get somebody in between a Saturday evening and a Monday morning but we’ll see what we can do.”

If City fail in their search for a loan signing, Ellis Deeney is expected to play alongside Morris after the captain saw out the closing stages at centre-back at Whaddon Road.

Despite Worcester’s worries at the back, they will no doubt be in high spirits after ending their seven-match losing sequence against Gloucester thanks to Deon Burton’s 87th-minute winner.

And, with Brackley currently in the relegation zone, Heeley said it was important they made it three wins from three in Vanarama National League North.

“We are playing well and have hit a good bit of form but we have got a long way to go,” said Heeley, whose side knocked Brackley out of the FA Trophy last month.

“We will have to dust ourselves down and hopefully put in a similar performance to the one we put in against Gloucester.

“Brackley might be down there and scrapping for points but they have got some good players and are probably underachieving, so it will be a tough game.

“That said, though, it is a game that we have got to pick up some more points from and if we can it will be a great weekend for us.”