WORCESTER City are keeping their fingers crossed that Daniel Nti will be fit to face North Ferriby United on Saturday.

The striker was forced out of Tuesday’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay defeat at Lincoln City six minutes before half-time with a hamstring injury.

He joins Richard Munday, who also has a hamstring complaint, in the treatment room, while fellow centre-half Shabir Khan’s ongoing hernia problem ruled him out at Sincil Bank.

Manager Carl Heeley said: “It’s a bit cruel when you lose Richard with a hamstring injury, Shabir can’t play because of his hernia problem and we lose Daniel Nti as well. The squad hasn’t got that much depth to it.

“Hopefully, they will be available but we will have to look at it closer to the time, it’s too early to say. Daniel will be a doubt for certain.”

Summer signing Sam Smith made his debut in the heart of the defence alongside Graham Hutchison after three months out with a knee injury.

He could make his first start at Aggborough this weekend if Khan and Munday are ruled out.

“Sam is big and strong, an old-fashioned, head-it-and-kick-it centre-half but he hasn’t played since July so it was a huge ask for him,” added Heeley.

“He will do well, he won’t let us down.”