POTENT finisher Lee Hughes is expected to return to action as a “fearless” Worcester City side aim to see off second-placed North Ferriby United at Aggborough today (3pm).

The Blue and Whites are in buoyant mood following their 3-2 victory over promotion-chasing AFC Fylde last Saturday and now look set to welcome the former West Bromwich Albion striker back into the attack.

The 39-year-old, who currently leads the club’s scoring charts with nine goals in 16 appearances, has not featured since Worcester’s 1-0 win at Gloucester City on Boxing Day due to a calf problem.

Although joint-manager Carl Heeley admitted Hughes was not fully fit, he said he was keen to get the striker back out onto the pitch as City bid to secure their first win at home since mid-December.

“Lee has trained and came through it unscathed, so that is great news and hopefully he will be available for selection,” he said.

“Hughesy has got vast experience and is a superb finisher. If you give him a chance, he hits the target more often than not because he has got loads of quality.

“You can never have enough firepower but whether Lee goes straight back into the team or not we will see.

“He will certainly be involved but we need to get him back to full fitness and that may take a couple of games.”

Centre-back Tom Sharpe has recovered from an illness and forward Jordan Murphy, who missed City’s trip to Fylde due to a family funeral, is also expected to return.

Nathan Vaughan is back available after completing his two-match suspension and likely to replace West Bromwich Albion loanee Ethan Ross in goal.

North Ferriby have won six out of their last seven league games and will arrive at Aggborough confident of increasing the pressure on leaders Solihull Moors with another victory.

However, Heeley says his 16th-placed side’s triumph at Fylde shows they have what it takes to beat any side in Vanarama National League North and believes they are in a stronger position to tackle their East Riding of Yorkshire opponents.

“I can only speak for myself but I don’t fear any team in our league,” he said.

“I don’t fear any team that we ever play against and, with the greatest of respect, that includes Coventry City, Scunthorpe and Sheffield United.

“I believed we could get a result at all of them.

“Speaking to Matt (Gardiner) and John (Snape), they feel the same but you can’t get into every single player’s head to see what they are thinking.

“It is going to be very tough today but we are capable of winning it and we will be stronger with the players we have got back than we were last Saturday at Fylde, which is really good news.”

Follow today’s match with live text coverage from Geoff Berkeley on this website.