MANAGER Carl Heeley is considering strengthening his depleted squad ahead of a batch of “big games” in Vanarama National League North.

Connor Hughes became the latest Worcester City player to suffer a knock when he was forced off with a leg injury in their 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers on New Year’s Day.

The 23-year-old joined fellow winger Micah Evans (calf), captain Danny Jackman (back), striker Colby Bishop (knee) and defender Tom Sharpe (knee), who were all ruled out of the derby, on the Blue and Whites’ injury list.

Seventeenth-placed Worcester host third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue tomorrow (3pm) when they will also be without centre-back Sam Oji who begins his three-match ban after getting sent off in City’s 0-0 draw with Harriers on Boxing Day.

Top scorer Lee Hughes, who was red carded in the second game with Harriers, will be available to lead the line against Avenue at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground.

But the 40-year-old striker’s four-game suspension means he will miss City’s home clash against mid-table FC United of Manchester as well as trips to bottom-half sides Curzon Ashton, Alfreton Town and Gloucester City.

Heeley admitted City, who are five points above Bradford in the relegation zone, were “short of numbers”.

When asked whether or not he would bolster his ranks, the Worcester boss said: “We will see.

“We have to be mindful of what we can get in and what we have to pay so we have to consider our options.

“But we are a little light with Danny, Micah and Connor (injured) and two suspensions which really do hinder us.”

Heeley said he hoped to have Jackman and Connor Hughes back in contention to tackle struggling Avenue.

“Danny got a knee into the bottom of his back and was too sore to play on Sunday,” he said.

“Connor got caught in the first half and there is a bit of soreness around his shin and knee so we will have to see how that settles down.”

Bishop, who suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in City’s FA Trophy defeat at York City last month, has done a light training session but Heeley said it was “hard to say” when he would be back.

“Hopefully it is not long because we need him as we are short of numbers again,” said Heeley.

He also confirmed Sharpe had not trained since coming off in Worcester’s 1-1 draw at Gainsborough Trinity before Christmas and Evans had picked up a “calf strain” but should not be out for “too long”.

Heeley added: “You do get injuries and they all seem to come together but the two red cards are our own doing.

“They (Oji and Hughes) are not available to us and that makes our job a little tougher.

“The aim has always been to stay at this level of football.

“We have got some big games coming up and have got to take some points from them.

“But we have done well against sides who are in and around us this season.”