GOALKEEPER Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton faces a six-week lay-off, ending Worcester City’s hopes of retaining him until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old’s loan spell from Premiership side Stoke City was due to come to an end following this Saturday’s Blue Square South match at Maidenhead United.

However, he limped off during the first-half of the 0-0 draw against St Albans at St George’s Lane at the weekend after suffering a torn thigh muscle.

St Louis-Hamilton, who played six times for City, was due to have a scan yesterday but is expected to be out for around six weeks.

Manager Carl Heeley had planned to try and extend his spell with the club but will now turn to Jake Meredith, whose drop in form sparked St Louis-Hamilton’s arrival last month.

He said: “Danzelle has torn his thigh and is going to be out for around six weeks so it looks as though his campaign is over.

“I would have looked to keep him until the end of the season.

“He really enjoyed his time at Worcester and playing regularly and I have given Stoke a glowing report.

“I thought he was superb for us. He had a shaky start at Lewes but since then he has been excellent.”

Heeley is also still in the dark over the reasons behind midfielder Ryan Burge’s no-show last Saturday.

The Glenn Hoddle Academy teenager failed to report for the St Albans match and the City boss has not heard from him since.

“I haven’t spoken to Ryan and he’s not attempted to call me,” Heeley said.

“I am not going to chase the boy around. I gave him the opportunity to play games at a good level and he chose not to come and play on Saturday.

“I need people who are committed to the cause and it appears that Ryan isn’t — that’s certainly the way it looks to me.”

He added: “You can’t foresee these things happening and, as much as it’s frustrating, they are out of my control.

“When you haven’t got a lot of funds free to play with and are short on numbers you need to utilise as many favours as you can and take gambles on one or two players.”

Meanwhile, substitute Gemma Whitehead scored an extra-time winner as Worcester City retained the Herefordshire and Worcestershire FA Women’s Cup with a 1-0 triumph over Ferndale at Bromsgrove Rovers’ Victoria Ground.

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