STEWART Hadley makes his first team return after a 10-month absence in tonight's Worcestershire FA Senior Cup second round clash at Halesowen Town (7.45).

The Worcester City forward will play up front alongside Duncan Willetts, while long-term injury casualties Mark Shail and Marc Burrow will also start.

Manager John Barton will give full debuts to new signing Mitch Counsell and youngster Richard Tomkins, while Paul Wyatt, Liam McDonald, Dean Smith and Dan Jones will also feature.

With Jon Holloway and Adam Wilde suspended for Saturday's FA Trophy match against Margate, the incoming players can press a claim for a starting role at the weekend.

For Hadley, who scored in his comeback for the reserves on Saturday in their 3-1 win against Redditch, it marks the end of a long battle to beat a troublesome Achilles problem.

"It seems to have healed up and hopefully all the problems are gone and it is cured," said Hadley. "I want to get in as many games as possible and build up my match fitness.

"I just have to take things at my own pace and if the Achilles starts to ache ease off. I came back a bit too soon a couple of months ago, did a bit too much and it was a bit sore but after a week's rest it was okay.

"It was great just to play a reserve game. I faded a bit but I'll get stronger and it's good just being back training with everyone because I've been doing a lot on my own which is a bit demoralising."

Reserve team manager Geoff Ashby watched Hadley, Burrow and Shail in action against Redditch and was pleased with their performances.

"All three played 90 minutes which was a bonus because I didn't think they would last anywhere near that," he said.