CAPTAIN Stuart Whitehead should be fit to shore up the Worcester City defence at Harrogate Town on Saturday.

The experienced centre-half missed Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Solihull Moors at St George’s Lane because of an eye infection.

Manager Carl Heeley lambasted his side’s defending in the defeat and believes Whitehead’s absence was a key factor.

He said: “Stuart had to come out of the side because he woke up with conjunctivitis and he could hardly open his eyes.

“I think it shows how important he is to us because the defending at times was atrocious.”

“I’m sure Stuart will be OK for Saturday.

“Within a few days things like that usually clear themselves up. “ Jacob Rowe reverted to the centre of defence alongside Lee Ayres on Monday, while Tyler Weir returned at right-back for the first time in four games following a facial injury.

Heeley said: “It was his first game back but we were forced into playing him because of the situation with Stuart and Shabir Khan being away.

“We were a bit light on numbers.

“That said, there were still four good players there and as a unit and individually they just made too many mistakes.”

The City boss added: “No matter how well we play and how many times we pass it around and create chances, we’re never going to win when we’re giving away goals like that.”