WORCESTER City travel to Newport County on Boxing Day (1pm) looking for only their second Dr Martens League double of the season.

It marks the start of three huge games for the St George's Lane club in the space of six days as they bid to stay in contention with Premier Division leaders Tamworth.

Following the Boxing Day match City are home to Welling United on Saturday and entertain Hednesford Town on New Year's Day.

With the Lambs three points ahead of City, Barton will be looking for a nine-point return over the festive programme and Newport has proved a happy hunting ground for City who won 2-0 last year including a stunning goal from Adam Webster.

The Exiles started this season brightly and were the early pacesetters before they arrived at St George's Lane in August only to lose 2-1 to goals from Jon Holloway and Carl Heeley.

That defeat marked the Welsh side's fall from the summit and manager Tim Harris lost his job after a poor run of results.

Ex-Welsh international and Chelsea star Peter Nicholas is now in charge.

Despite their impressive five-goal demolition of Chelmsford, Barton is remaining level headed about his side's progress.

"The next step is to ensure we come out in the New Year still in some sort of position to challenge," he said. "Wheth-er we win or not we will know after game 42 but in the meantime there are lots of little hurdles to get over and mini targets to scale starting with Newport.

"It's always a decent atmosphere down there but they've got a new manager who is trying to get it right so we'll need to be up for it ourselves."

Barton's hopes of easing the burden on his injury-stretched squad with a loan signing are on hold at the moment with City waiting to see if they can wrap up a deal before Christmas deadlines.

"If I can bring someone in it will give us the chance to keep the players fresh for some important games," he said.

"There are a couple of other options that might materialise."

Worcester's top of the table clash with Tamworth on January 4 will be segregated for safety reasons.

FORMCAST: City to win 2-0.