WORCESTER City have secured a deal to bring in a loan striker ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Welling United (3pm).

The forward is ready to make his debut in the Blue Square South clash but manager Richard Dryden is keeping his name under wraps.

City want to be sure the game in Kent goes ahead, following Tuesday’s postponement due to a waterlogged pitch at Thurrock in nearby Essex, before making his identity public.

Should the match be called off, City will delay the signing until after the FA Trophy first round clash against Grays Athletic next weekend as the player is cup-tied.

Welling were last night hopeful of tomorrow’s match going ahead and can borrow a waterhog — a sponge device to soak up water — from League One neighbours Leyton Orient if needed.

City boss Dryden said: “I am not going to say who the loan signing is yet because, if tomorrow’s game is called off, he won’t play until after the FA Trophy. We just want to make sure.

“Christmas is coming so we are covering ourselves to make sure we have enough players.

“But, if the Welling game is on, he will come straight in. We are still looking for that elusive goalscorer and hopefully we have found one here.

“His club have given us a very good deal on the wages.”

Dryden had hoped to use Alfie Carter in a forward role following Marvin Brown’s return to Weston-super-Mare but has been unable to secure cover at left-back.

Carter is currently occupying that position with Shabir Khan on international duty with Pakistan and a move for Tamworth’s Dominic Langdon did not materialise.

Dryden said: “Alfie is doing OK at left-back and Dominic is still playing for Tamworth.

“I have been looking for an out-and-out left-back but have been struggling to find one.”

City are keeping their fingers crossed that the trip to the Wings goes ahead after the weather intervened on Tuesday.

A decision was made early in the day in mid-week to stop the St George’s Lane club travelling.

It avoided a repeat of last season’s farcical situation when City turned back from Hayes and Yeading an hour before kick-off because of a frozen pitch.

Dryden added: “As a group, we were disappointed the Thurrock game was off so we are desperate for tomorrow’s game to be on.”