BROMSGROVE Rovers' plans for tomorrow's FA Umbro Trophy third round tie at Worksop Town (3pm) have been hit by a selection crisis.
Several players are struggling to make the trip to the Unibond League Premier Division side, with Joey Beard, Steve Ulfig and Michael Crawford all having gone down with 'flu, Jamie Turpin, Mark Benbow and Shaun Bedward suffering from injuries and Matt Beard serving a one-match suspension.
Recent signings Dean Wright and Phil Rowe are cup-tied, and chief executive Pat Bannister admitted: "That could leave us with about six players."
Consequently, they may have to dip into the reserve and youth teams to bolster their ranks.
It is not ideal preparation for the trip to Nottinghamshire to face a side who are fifth in the table and are top scorers in the division with 62 goals.
Worksop also boast players such as former Tottenham and England winger Chris Waddle and ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst.
But Rovers have beaten two other Unibond Premier sides to reach this stage, and scored their first win in 12 Dr Martens League Western Division games against Cinderford last week.
Bannister admitted: "We are very much up against it, particularly with a depleted squad.
"Having said that, the lads have seemed to raise their games in the Trophy this season.
"It is a big, big test for us and we would like to bring them back to our place on Tuesday. If we can do that we have a realistic chance."
Bromsgrove (from): Gabbidon, J. Beard, Ulfig, Q. Townsend, S. Frost, Benbow, Burgess, Crawford, Carter, Biddle, McDonald, M. Townsend.
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