HEREFORD FC are due to dip into the loan market ahead of their National League North opener at home to Blyth Spartans a week on Saturday.

With ex-Worcester City striker Mike Symons out for 10 weeks with a fractured tibia, forward Keyon Reffell getting back to fitness and full-back Jimmy Oates’ move to Exeter City, the club need more players.

Hereford boss Pete Beadle hoped to sign a centre-half on loan before this Saturday’s final pre-season friendly at Edgar Street against Cardiff City (3pm) and he is also looking at other targets.

“Mike’s injury is a bit more serious than we first thought and after X-ray he has got a very small fracture in his tibia so he is going to be 10 weeks minimum,” said Beadle.

“Six weeks possibly in a cast and four weeks rehabilitation.

“It has been our toughest pre-season so far with comings and going with losing our captain Jimmy and Mike with this injury.

“That can only bode well that we get all this bad news out of the way before the season starts.

“We have to be careful with Keyon as he broke a bone in his foot against Kettering last year and the injury is very close to that.

“It’s happened so late in pre-season that we need to venture into that loan market to make sure we have the numbers.”

Hereford have former Chelsea and QPR academy keeper Conor Hudnott on trial and he played in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers.

Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers manager Neil MacFarlane wants to cut out their defensive errors ahead of the August 4 league opener at Alfreton Town.

Harriers performed well in spells against West Bromwich Albion’s youngsters on Wednesday but had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

MacFarlane said: “I said to the group that we know as defenders our job first and foremost is to defend.

“The goals we lost in that spell at the start of the second half were soft. We have to eradicate them because we are putting so much into the game in front of that.”

Centre-half trialist Ed Wagner, 24, has signed for Harriers on a short-term deal.

He has played in lower divisions in the USA and ended last season at Alfreton Town.

Harriers have given trialist forward Kane Richards, 24, a one-year deal after spells with Derby County, Chester, Dover Athletic and AFC Telford United.

Kidderminster play their final pre-season friendly at National League outfit Solihull Moors on Saturday (3pm).