LEE Hughes hopes to pack a punch in both roles by making his return from injury in Worcester City’s trip to Coleshill Town tomorrow (3pm).

The 41-year-old striker and joint-manager has missed City’s past three matches with a groin strain that will be assessed ahead of the clash of the Midland League heavyweights at Pack Meadow.

Coleshill, runners-up to Alvechurch last season, lead the way in the Premier Division having put together a 10-match unbeaten run in the league, winning eight.

Worcester will undoubtedly still be smarting having let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at AFC Wulfrunians on Tuesday with Hughes cutting a frustrated figure in the dugout.

But with the ex-West Bromwich Albion star, who has 10 goals to show for his past nine City matches, is optimistic over making his comeback and influencing the outcome on two fronts.

“I will see how I feel,” said Hughes. “We will have to see but I have got in some rest so hopefully I can be involved.

“It is useful to be out there when you’re trying to organise on the pitch, it is more difficult to do from the sidelines when you are used to being out there. Sometimes you cannot get message across to the other side so quickly.

“The biggest frustration is over not playing, though. I still want to play every game but I know I have to be right before coming back.”

City have completed the signing of Bekir Halil from Hinckley AFC and the versatile right-sided player goes into tomorrow’s squad.

Midfielder Mat Birley could come back into contention following hamstring trouble with Hughes keen to see a repeat of the fighting spirit shown by City after previous setbacks this season.

“The lads have been brilliant whenever we have lost or let slip a lead. Hopefully we will see the same reaction at Coleshill,” he added.

“We do have a good, honest bunch of lads but they have to learn from their mistakes and quickly.

“Our priority is setting the same standard we did in the first half at Wulfrunians and maintain that tempo.”

And despite Coleshill’s imperious record of late, Hughes believes he has spotted some chinks in their armour.

“We have seen them a few times and they have a good footballing team that likes to get the ball wide,” he added.

“They do like to pass and get the ball flashing across the box, they have scored plenty of goals that way but we also know some of their weaknesses too.

“I am not going to talk too much about them. When you’re playing them on a Saturday, you have to stay tight lipped on certain things to try to keep a few tricks up our sleeve.”