AT least one new player is high on Worcester City’s agenda ahead of Saturday’s match against title challengers Barrow.

City’s squad is currently being stretched to breaking point with six players unavailable for Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat to new league leaders Fylde.

Midfielders Danny Jackman (ankle) and Connor Gater (groin), left-back Tyler Weir (foot) and keeper Nathan Vaughan (foot) are all injured, while defensive duo Shabir Khan and Aaron Brown are suspended.

Centre-half Jacob Rowe played against Fylde despite a groin strain and the situation has not been helped by Wayne Thomas leaving and top-scorer Sean Geddes facing a one-match ban against Lowestoft Town next month following his red card on Tuesday.

With the transfer deadline looming next Thursday, City are ready to act to swell their numbers.

Assistant manager Matt Gardiner said: “It was a bit too soon for Tuesday to get somebody in but we’ve got one or two irons in the fire and hopefully we’ll get some strength in for Saturday.

“We’ll assess the injuries and see if there’s any more players that could potentially come into the club before the weekend just to give us that little bit of a boost for the run-in.”

He added: “We’ve got to be mindful of the balance of the squad at the moment and who’s coming back in but if we are looking to bring someone one in, it maybe needs to be someone for next season as well.”

Gardiner felt the lack of options finally took its toll in the defeat to Fylde at Aggborough.

“We were outplayed from start to finish and we can’t really complain about the scoreline.”