WORCESTER City look set to be dealt a double blow after it emerged centre-back Tom Sharpe and winger Connor Hughes may require knee surgery.

Sharpe has not played for the Blue and Whites since being forced off in City’s 1-1 draw at Gainsborough Trinity last month.

At the time Heeley said he had taken him off as a “precaution” after the 28-year-old experienced “clicking” in his knee.

However, he revealed Sharpe had sustained “cartilage damage” and could be out for “six weeks” if he goes under the knife.

To add to Heeley’s woes, Hughes has “damaged” medial collateral ligaments, meaning he could also need an operation on his injured knee.

City paid an undisclosed fee to sign the 23-year-old from FC Halifax Town on an 18-month deal in November.

But after six appearances and one goal Hughes appears to be preparing himself for a lengthy spell on the sidelines along with Sharpe after picking up the injury in City’s 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers on New Year’s Day.

Heeley said: “I think Tom has got cartilage damage. Generally speaking, if they have not settled down for seven to 10 days they need surgery.

“If that’s needed, it is going to be six weeks after he has had the operation.

“Connor has damaged medial knee ligaments so that is the deck of cards we have been dealt with.”

Heeley was also without captain Danny Jackman (back) and winger Micah Evans (calf) due to injury and the suspended Sam Oji last Saturday as 17th-placed City suffered a 1-0 loss to third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground.

“I am confident that if I have got all my players available we would be better than we were on Saturday,” Heeley said “But as for when they would be available I don’t know because some of them have got injuries that may need surgery.”

Heeley said 34-year-old Jackman was “still very sore” after getting a knee in the back against Harriers on Boxing Day.

But he was hopeful of having Evans back fit to face mid-table FC United of Manchester on Saturday (3pm) after the 23-year-old did “some work” before kick-off last weekend.

With striker Lee Hughes beginning his four-match ban, Heeley said he was pleased to see Colby Bishop back on the pitch.

The 20-year-old frontman, who injured his knee at York City last month, was a second-half substitute against Avenue.

“I didn’t want to have to use Colby on Saturday,” Heeley added.

“But I just felt we had to make a change to try to keep the ball because it kept coming back.

“He is woefully short of training and conditioning so it was a needs-must substitution but it was one of the few positives from the game as he hasn’t got a serious injury and is back out on the pitch.

“Hopefully he will be a positive for us in the coming weeks.”