WORCESTER City manager Carl Heeley refused to make any “hasty decisions or statements” about Lee Hughes’ second red card of the season.

The 40-year-old striker was sent off in the closing moments of City’s 2-1 loss at Kidderminster Harriers on New Year’s Day for kicking out at Elton Ngwatala.

The ex-West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City hitman will miss four Vanarama National League North fixtures after facing third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Saturday (3pm).

It means 17th-placed Worcester will be without their top scorer for the home game against mid-table FC United of Manchester as well as trips to fellow strugglers Curzon Ashton and Alfreton Town and a derby at Gloucester City this month.

Heeley said he was “frustrated” to lose Hughes, admitting it “didn’t help” his side who are five points above the relegation zone.

“It is a difficult one because there were about seven or eight players in around all scrapping for the ball,” he said.

“I actually heard a kick but I could not see who did it.

“Snapper (assistant boss John Snape) said it was Lee and it is frustrating. There is nothing else other than that.”

It was not the first time Hughes had been given his marching orders this term having been shown red in City’s 3-0 defeat at FC Halifax Town in August after appearing to hit out at defender Daniel Hone.

After serving his three-match suspension, the former Premier League frontman, who has scored 13 goals in 21 appearances this season, vowed not to produce another “moment of madness”.

But four months later Hughes let his frustrations boil over again and Heeley revealed they would “chat about it sensibly”.

“I am not going to make hasty decisions or statements now,” said Heeley after his team surrendered a 1-0 half-time lead against their Worcestershire rivals.

“But we will look back it and chat about it sensibly.

“It is frustrating we are going to lose a player for probably four games.

“That doesn’t help us and that’s all I am concerned about.”

Hughes’ sending off also comes less than a week after centre-back Sam Oji was dismissed in City’s 0-0 draw with Kidderminster on Boxing Day.

Oji's three-game ban starts on Saturday.

Heeley insisted Worcester had “dramatically improved” their discipline after Cieron Keane, Hughes, Ebby Nelson-Addy, Junior English and Graham Hutchison were sent off in the opening three months of the campaign.

However, City’s wretched record of red cards now stands at seven, the joint highest across the top six leagues.

Worcester have also picked up 44 yellows with the fifth worst disciplinary figures in their division.

“It was a trait we had earlier on in the season,” said Heeley whose side finished last term with 12 reds to their name.

“It then dramatically improved and you shoot up the table from a fair play point of view.

“But in the two games over Christmas we have unfortunately picked up another two reds which is disappointing.

“They are key players and we are going to miss them in the coming weeks.”