ATTACKING midfielder Marius Ologu could be handed his first start for Worcester City when they take on Curzon Ashton at the Tameside Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

The Romanian has been forced to bide his time, making just three substitute appearances in Vanarama National League North since joining the club from Dudley Town in January.

Joint-manager Carl Heeley admitted he had taken a “punt” on Ologu after spotting him in a training session and was looking to send him out to another club to gain experience.

However, after coming off the bench to set up Lee Hughes for his last-gasp equaliser against Alfreton Town on Tuesday, Heeley said the 26-year-old, who has played professional football in Romania, had forced himself into contention for a starting shirt.

“Marius has been a positive and a real find for us,” Heeley said.

“He has got a spring in his step and that yard of pace which he was lacking.

“He has got a wand of a left foot and it has paid dividends at the end as that was a great ball in for Hughesy.

“I am delighted for him and he is, without question, pushing for a start.”

Ologu could come in for either winger Jordan Murphy or midfielder Connor Gater, who have both struggled to sparkle in recent weeks.

Striker Lee Hughes is also expected to start up front, with Amadou Bakayoko beginning his three-match suspension and Deon Burton unavailable due to coaching commitments.

With keeper Nathan Vaughan out for more than a month with a groin injury, loan signings Calum Kitscha and Ethan Ross will compete for the number one jersey, while City are hopeful of having centre-half Wayne Thomas, who has been suffering with a back problem, available.

But Heeley said he was impressed with Kieran Morris, who replaced Thomas after being recalled from his loan at Rushall Olympic.

“Kieran was outstanding against Alfreton,” Heeley said.

“You can tell he has benefitted from going away and playing plenty of games as he didn’t put a foot wrong.

“Kieran did not have any points to prove to us because I know what a good player he is.

“But he is young and needs to play football so, while we wanted him here, there was no point leaving him on the bench.

“We decided to send him away and get eight to 10 games under his belt, which has been a massive benefit to him.”

City claimed their third draw in succession on Tuesday as they climbed a place to 14th place, five points above the relegation area.

Curzon Ashton, meanwhile, are up to 10th after a 2-0 victory over Gainsborough Trinity in midweek, but Heeley said they will go to Tameside with confidence.

“We have got a decent little run going and are keeping our points tally ticking over,” he added.

“We could have been going away from Aggborough on Tuesday a bit deflated but when you score late on it feels like a win.

“We kept going and that shows the character of the side.”