A STRIKER injury crisis has failed to ease ahead of Worcester City's crucial home Nationwide North clash against Stalybridge Celtic tomorrow (3pm).

Mark Danks and Leon Kelly are expected to play through the pain barrier once more as City look to banish the memory of last Monday's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Moor Green.

Player-manager Andy Preece remains the only fully fit striker available, with Danks and Kelly nursing respective ankle and foot injuries.

Adam Webster, the club's leading goalscorer this season, missed the Moors defeat due to 'flu and is also struggling to shake off a hip problem.

Another probable non-starter for the visit of Celtic is Troy Wood. The teenage star feels pain while walking after suffering a possible shin splints injury.

"It is not an ideal situation going into one of the most important games of the campaign," said Preece.

"These things happen throughout the season.

"We've had problems with the midfielders being injured and now it's happening to the club's strikers. It's something we have to deal with.

"We've still got to check Danksy because his ankle is a bit sore. Leon's foot is heavily bruised and he had to play through that against Moor Green.

"They are both carrying injuries and are not 100 per cent. They gave their best on Monday, although they were not at their sharpest.

"It's not a criticism of them because they gave everything for the club. But they probably should not have played."

An X-ray scan revealed that Wood had not broken any bones, but Preece is going to allow the 18-year-old plenty of time to allow his shin problem to fully recover.

Preece added: "Troy is struggling at the moment. He can hardly walk and finds it painful when he does. That could clear quickly or take quite a while. We will just have to see.

"It is a problem with both shins. It could be shin splints or something else.

"He's had it X-rayed and that came back clear with nothing broken, so that's good.

"He has played a lot of games this season and these things can happen. We will have to be careful with him."

Preece is delighted to see long-suffering veteran Graham Hyde nearer to full fitness.

The former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder has not started a Nationwide North game since December 10 due to a combination of different injuries.

Preece said: "It's been a bit of a nightmare for him from Christmas time onwards. He wants to get back to playing well.

"It's been frustrating for him and us -- a stop-start season. Hopefully, this will be the end of his injury problems."