KIDDERMINSTER Harriers captain Wayne Hatswell has admitted the Football League's basement team could be better off without him during his suspension.

He must sit out Saturday's crucial home clash with fellow strugglers Shrewsbury after his sending-off at Chester.

Hatswell believes his time out will give him chance to take stock of his worrying loss of form. He said: "It's heart-wrenching because I thought the sending-off was harsh and for it to happen at my old club was an extra kick in the proverbials.

"Obviously I want to be out there playing my part and helping to try and turn this situation around but maybe it might help me get a little bit of my desire back."

Hatswell is backing his likely understudy, Chris McHale, to be an able deputy in his absence.

"The lads have got to get on with it without me and maybe the team might start winning without me because I haven't done very well of late," he said.

Harriers' injury worries deepened with the news John Danby will be out for up to six weeks with a broken toe.

The top-rated keeper sustained the injury against Bristol Rovers last Saturday and played through the pain barrier in midweek but has now been told he must have his foot put in plaster.

With understudy Daniel Lewis also nursing a broken finger, Harriers boss Jan Molby was frantically trying to draft in a replacement in time for Shrewsbury's visit.