KIDDER-MINSTER Harriers are coming to terms with the possibility that they may be without injury-plagued striker Ian Foster for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old former Hereford United campaigner has been dogged by hamstring trouble which has severely rest-ricted his first team app-earances this term to 16, including one as a substitute.

Harriers boss Jan Molby said: "We are probably still looking at four to five or six weeks before he can start training and then, of course, you are into April.

"If he does come back at that time he'll obviously need games, but I would suggest that would be in the reserves. It's not a million miles away from writing his season off.

"He had a scan a couple of weeks ago and it showed two small tears in his hamstring.

Achieved

"It's been a disappointing season for him after what he achieved for us last year. But if we can get him right just before the end of the season and play a few reserve games then next season we can see what we can get out of him. He'll obviously have to continue to work throughout the summer."

During his appearances this term Foster has scored three goals compared to the 20 he notched in 40 games during Kidderminster's Nationwide Conference title-winning ex-ploits last season.

Another hamstring injury victim this term has been 25-year-old defender Scott Stamps.

Molby said: "He'll be doing some more work this week. We want to make it 110 per cent sure that when he returns he's ready."

Ruled out for a couple of weeks will be midfielder Adie Smith who had to be replaced for the second half of Sunday's home 4-2 Nationwide League Division Three defeat against promotion-chasing Cardiff City because of a groin strain.

The former Bromsgrove Rovers player was replaced by record signing Andy Ducros, who was taken out of the firing line recently because Molby felt he looked tired and heavy legged.

The ex-Liverpool star said: "I think when you get tired everything gets tired including your brain and mind.

"He is very much a player who plays with his head and when that goes tired the edge just comes off his game. He's suffered from that for a while now.

"We will involve him sparingly from now until the end of the season. But I think in terms of Ducros it's all about what he can give us next season.

"The way he played until Christmas this season I thought was exceptional and I think next season he will be even better.

"He's still to gain a little bit of experience at this level, but I think it's a case of getting him into next season in the right frame of mind.

"I've noticed from looking at him for a number of weeks -- and you could also see it in training -- it's not the same Ducros at the moment. We accept that that was always going to happen to that type of player."

Molby, meanwhile, is poised to step up his bid to extend midfielder Neil Mackenzie's contract with Harriers.

The 24-year-old signed a deal earlier this season which takes him to the end of the current campaign, but the Kidderminster boss wants to secure a longer Aggborough future for the former Stoke City and Cambridge United player.

He said: "I'm waiting for his agent to get in touch with me. We are looking to try to extent the contract. We'd be looking for two years beyond this season which would be realistic.

"Every indication he has given us is that he wants to stop. He's enjoying his football and another factor is that being here he's very close to his family. But I think the main thing is he's enjoying his football and that's got to be massive.

Since arriving at Aggborough Mackenzie has produced a number of man-of-the-match performances.