EVESHAM United manager Phil Mullen has spent a busy 48 hours trying to bolster his squad ahead of tomorrow's trip to Atherstone United in the Dr Martens Western Division (3pm).

Nathan Jukes is doubtful with an ankle injury while Jay Powell is out with a head wound picked up against Stourport Swifts in what turned out to be a nightmare clash for the Robins boss.

In fact Mullen could have been forgiven for calling in Mulder and Scully after half his team disappeared prior to the New Year's Day match.

Shaun Pratt and Wesley Joyce failed to turn up while Inderpaul Khela and Paul Hunter were recalled by Kidderminster Harriers and Hinckley respectively.

To make matters worse, Jukes and Powell were carried off and Mark Wolsey was sent off.

Assistant manager Paul Davies had to pull on his boots at the age of 42 while substitute 'keeper Craig Ladek went up front.

"We had a number of problems and it ended up being a bit of fiasco," said Davies.

"When Nathan Jukes was taken off I went on which wasn't what I was expecting at 42 and not having kicked a ball for a few weeks.

"To end up running around ankle deep in mud wasn't part of my plans."

Davies hopes to be back on the sidelines for tomorrow's clash.

"We are hoping to get Inderpaul Khela back and looking to bring a few people in at short notice," he said. "We will be wor-king on that and hoping that we have got enough to get a side out.

"We had aspirations of moving up the table with our games in hand but teams are getting away from us a bit but our main concern at the moment is just getting a side out.

"Consistency has been a problem for us this season and last season but even now there are a lot of winnable games left to play. We've got to play Mangotsfield twice but if we could put a run together you never know.

"Whatever happens there's still a lot to play for though I just hope I'm back in my normal position on the bench and not playing."

Back-to-back defeats over Christmas have left the Robins languishing in mid-table.

"To be fair on Saturday against Taunton we were not on the level that we have been against Rovers and Weston but did more than enough to win the game," added Davies.

Evesham entertain Mangotsfield next Tuesday, while their game at Cinderford, which was postponed on Boxing Day, has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 4.