MANAGER Martin Foyle says he will use the last nine games of Hereford United’s season to run the rule over players for next term.

With the ninth-placed Bulls 11 points shy of the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs and 13 above the drop-zone, there is little at stake beyond a potential top-10 finish.

That has given Foyle the opportunity to take a look at fringe players as he did with centre-half Rod McDonald in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at Gateshead.

It could be a similar story for tomorrow’s match with Hyde at Edgar Street (3pm) following the arrival of Westfields’ left-sided midfielder Craig Jones until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old, who began his career with Hereford, has scored 13 goals for the Midland Alliance side and will return for Fields’ final three league fixtures.

Financial restraints will not allow Foyle to spend big in the summer so he is looking at players lower down the pyramid such as Jones and McDonald, who signed from Northern Premier League outfit Nantwich.

He said: “We have to start looking for next season now because I don’t want to have trial matches in pre-season.

“I don’t want to get to the end of the season having not seen players in action and then having to make a decision on them.”

Stefan Stam could return but fellow centre-half Michael Townsend (calf), winger Marley Watkins (groin) and midfielder Simon Clist (hip) are still out.

But full-back Andy Gallinagh could be involved despite having being diagnosed with salmonella poisoning.