JOINT-manager Carl Heeley hopes Worcester City’s injury “bad luck” is behind them as they prepare to battle it out with promotion-chasing AFC Fylde at Kellamergh Park today (3pm).

They have suffered a string of injury setbacks in recent weeks and are set to be without forward Lee Hughes (thigh) and centre-half Wayne Thomas (hamstring) for their trip to Lancashire.

Winger Tristian Dunkley has been ruled out for up to six weeks after dislocating his shoulder against Corby Town, who won 2-1 at Aggborough last Saturday.

Heeley has been disappointed with his side’s form with just one point in their last three games, leaving them level on points with third-from-bottom Corby in National League North.

However, he insisted injuries to Hughes, Thomas and defender Alex Gudger, as well as the suspension of experienced goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan, had “severely hampered” his team.

“It has been incredibly frustrating as they are huge players for us,” Heeley said.

“But, like I have said many times, it is not under our control because injuries in particular are just bad luck.

“Once we can get them back onto the pitch often enough, we will be absolutely fine but getting them onto the pitch is the first challenge.

“Lee has got a thigh strain, so it is case of breaking that down. There is still a little lump in there but, with another session of treatment, he said he will feel a lot better.

“I think today is going to be too soon for him but I am very hopeful he will be fine for the following week.”

With Vaughan one game away from returning, young West Bromwich Albion loanee Ethan Ross is expected to be given the number one jersey despite his late howler last Saturday.

Worcester-born midfielder Danny Jackman will captain the side, which is likely to feature young guns Jamie Smith and Dean Waldron after City sold former skipper Ellis Deeney to Tamworth.

Fylde are in rich form, having scored eight goals in back-to-back FA Trophy ties.

They are fourth in the table but Heeley is optimistic of City’s chances.

“Fylde are a very good side and it is going to be tough with the number of players we have got missing but we are not going to hide behind that,” he said.

“If we turn up and do things right, we can beat anyone in this league and even the league above.

“We just need to learn from the mistakes we have been making this season and hopefully minimise the number of errors we make collectively, as we have got the ability within the squad.”

City have signed Romanian Marius Ologu, 26, from West Midlands League Premier Division side Dudley Town ahead of the Fylde visit.

Ologu’s previous club was professional outfit Caransebes in the second tier of the Romanian league system.

The attacking midfielder has also appeared for Universitatea Craiova among other clubs in his homeland.