TAMWORTH manager Des Lyttle is hoping to complete a double signing ahead of tomorrow’s “six-pointer” against Blue Square Bet Premier visitors Hayes & Yeading.
Lyttle had been frantically using his extensive contacts to try to recruit a keeper after on-loan Liam Mitchell was crocked in the midweek defeat to Luton.
Lyttle is also on the trail of a striker-midfielder from a League club on a loan deal for the rest of the season.
It has been first feared teenager Mitchell, who has joined from Notts County, had broken his hand but it now appears a bad sprain. He will have a scan today to assess the injury.
But Mitchell will be ruled out against Hayes at the Lamb, leaving academy keeper Louis Connor, who ironically had joined Halesowen Town this week to get match experience, or golden oldie Dale Belford, the goalkeeping coach, to take on the gloves tomorrow.
“I’ve probably tried 55 clubs to try to get in another first-team keeper without any luck but we’ve still got Friday to try to do something,” said Lyttle. “It’s frustrating because two weeks ago there were a lot of keepers available and now it’s all changed.”
The Lambs, mindful of needing a few more wins to secure their status, will give top scorer Kyle Perry a fitness test on the ankle injury which ruled him out midweek, while defender Duane Courtney should be fit despite a bout of tendinitis.
n Gary Whild suggests inexperience will be asset rather than hindrance as Kidderminster Harriers continue their play-off push.
Steve Burr’s fifth-placed side tackle a fourth promotion contender in a row tomorrow when they head to joint pacesetters AFC Wimbledon.
Harriers have beaten Wrexham and drawn with Luton and Crawley to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches and assistant manager Whild saluted a remarkable team spirit within the Aggborough camp.
“People wondered how we would cope because it’s a new team but I don’t think that’s ever been a worry,” said Whild. “Perhaps there’s a naivety because a lot of the lads are new to this level but they have played a lot of football now. They are simply enjoying it.
“You couldn’t ask any more from the players for what they have achieved so far.”
Skipper Keith Briggs (hamstring) and striker Sean Canham (Achilles) are expected to be fit after missing Tuesday’s draw with Crawley but defender Tom Sharpe is set to be absent with a knee injury.
