Injuries threatening City’s unbeaten run (From Worcester News)

Injuries threatening City’s unbeaten run

7:00am Friday 27th August 2010

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By Steve Carley »

WORCESTER City take their fine start to the season to Stafford Rangers tomorrow looking for their fourth win in a row (3pm).

Following an opening day defeat to Gainsborough Trinity, City have hit back in style with a 4-2 triumph at Eastwood Town and 3-2 successes against both Vauxhall Motors and Hinckley United.

Victory at Marston Road tomorrow would equal a winning run last achieved in December 2007, the first month of Richard Dryden’s reign.

But Stafford have taken seven points from their first four games and haven’t lost to City on home soil in five attempts.

However, manager Carl Heeley has seen his plans disrupted by injuries to defensive duo Rob Elvins and Shabir Khan, forcing him into changes having had a settled starting XI to date.

Centre-half Elvins has broken a bone in his foot and could be out for up to six weeks, while left-back Shabir twisted knee his knee in the Hinckley success.

Assistant-player manager Mark Clyde is also giving cause for concern after sustaining rib and Achilles injuries.

However, captain Graham Ward is set to return to right-back after concussion forced Heeley to rest him for Monday’s victory over Hinckley.

Tom Evans, Ward’s replacement in that match, has recovered from a head injury and is likely to come in for Elvins with Jamie Price slotting in on the left.

Heeley said: “It will definitely be a tough game but I expect us to take a decent following there.

“Stafford is never an easy place to go and win games and they have had a good start as well. Chris Brindley did well to keep them up last year, they will provide a stern test for us.

“But we are confident after winning three games on the spin so we are going there looking to win the game and if we can, that would be fantastic.”

He added: “I think we have the ability to win games of football. I’m surprised how many goals we’ve conceded because that wasn’t the case last season. Generally, the performances have to be stronger for 90 minutes.

“I think we showed promise in pre-season that we could win games of football and be entertaining so the fact that we’ve won three is not surprising, it’s certainly welcome, and I am very happy with that.

“Having lost the opening game to go and win the next three, especially with two away from home, was a big ask but we’ve done it.”