JOINT-manager Carl Heeley admits his squad will be stretched over the coming weeks but he is backing Worcester City’s fringe players to step up to the plate.

City have 17 games left of the Vanarama National League North season, with seven of those coming in a congested March, and Heeley says the busy fixture list will test his side’s mettle.

But, after giving several players who have not featured much recently got the chance to shine at Halesowen Town on Tuesday, Heeley said the friendly proved Worcester had enough depth.

“We have got a lot of games coming up in the next two-and-a-half months and we have not got a big squad as we have got a number of players on loan,” Heeley said.

“Every player is going to play a part, so we need to keep them in decent nick and get some minutes under their belt.

“We have had two great results (against AFC Fylde and North Ferriby United) and the boys who played have done well and they deserve to keep their shirt.

“But there isn’t a player at Worcester who isn’t in our thoughts.”

Fit-again striker Lee Hughes featured at Halesowen along with centre back Clayton McDonald, the versatile Jamie Smith, and midfielders Dean Waldron and Marius Ologu, whose first-half free kick clinched a 1-0 win.

Heeley said the match, which came after their league game against Alfreton Town was postponed last Saturday, was a great opportunity to run the rule over his squad as well as giving some of the club’s promising youngsters a chance to stake their claim.

“We wanted to have a look at Marius and give Hughesy, Jamie and Dean some minutes,” he said.

“So when we got an offer on Saturday from Halesowen to play a game in midweek, we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to give players some game-time and also look at some of the youngsters we have got available.

“James Lemon, Max Crisp and Jack Brighton, who were part of last season’s youth team, played and we gave a lot of lads 45 minutes or an hour, so it was very beneficial.

“It is good to get everyone playing, so if we need them for a game they are fit and available because it is no good for us to be signing loads of players.”

Worcester visit mid-table Chorley tomorrow (3pm).

City’s postponed home fixture with Alfreton Town has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 8 (7.45pm).

The visit of Bradford Park Avenue has again been changed to Tuesday, April 5 (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, teenage striker Jordan Murphy’s loan spell from Walsall has been extended until March 12.