WORCESTER City will be forced into changes as they pursue a Midland Football League Cup semi-final place tonight (7.45pm).

John Snape’s side head to Premier Division rivals Romulus’ Castle Vale Stadium base for the last-eight tie with at least five players likely to be missing from Saturday’s line-up.

Ninth-placed City went down 4-3 at lowly Loughborough University in the league at the weekend after going ahead but then falling 4-1 behind.

Midfielders Chris Withington (ankle) and Mat Birley (calf) and forward Jamal Lawrence are injury doubts while defender Callum McFarlane is ineligible.

The highly-rated George Forsyth, who is set to turn down an approach from leaders Ilkeston Town according to Snape, is playing for an FA Select team against a Herefordshire representative side at Hereford FC tomorrow night.

City manager Snape said: “With the quick turnaround in games we will have to make forced changes.

“But after the defeat I didn’t really want to make a lot of changes.

“It’s about getting back out there and putting things right.

“I think I have the right characters who want to do that.”

Snape admitted: “I’ve questioned the boys’ fitness and also questioned myself over whether we played the right characters.

“It’s about who wants to be here next season, including myself.

“I expect a massive reaction in the Romulus game.

“You can’t come away from home and expect to score four goals to get a point.

“Loughborough’s first goal knocked the stuffing out of us. They were soft goals.

“We made some positive changes and all three subs had a massive impact on the game.

“Our three goals deserved to win any match but we haven’t been good enough and haven’t hurt them at the right times.

“The biggest disappointment is they’ve had seven chances in the game and scored four.

“We’ve had 12 to 14 and took three of them.

“Some of the football in the first quarter of the game from us was breathtaking on a lovely surface.

“But we gave them the momentum to get at us.

“We have got a reasonably young side and heads did drop. But that’s the learning curve.

“That continuity and regular playing between now and the end of the season will be key to see if the young players are good enough for this level.

“I think they are. They are the future of the football club and I believe in them.

“I want the youth and kids who we brought through our system to flourish. They’ve had the opportunity and it’s about getting that consistency from now until the end of the season.”

On Forsyth’s future, Snape added: “He scored a great goal at Loughborough and stepped into midfield with his versatility.

“I hope he sticks around. I spoke to George last week and I don’t think he’ll be going to Ilkeston from the message I got but you never know in football.

“They have got 28 days to sign him. George is a massive part of the club’s plans and I genuinely hope and think he will be staying.”