MARCO Adaggio believes the acquisition of Marc McGregor can only benefit Worcester City in the long-term.

Considering the financial restraints placed on manager Richard Dryden, he has worked wonders to assemble the squad he has.

Although the team is currently languishing at the wrong end of the table, on paper, this is fast becoming a group of players who have the potential to be much higher.

Currently, Dryden has 21 squad members at his disposal and the arrival of striker McGregor from Weston-super-Mare has further enhanced the competition for places.

There is cover in every area and, crucially, several players can operate in more than one position — principally Kevin Spencer and Alfie Carter.

McGregor’s addition now means Dryden has four frontline strikers to call on — the others being Adaggio, Matt Dinsmore and Rob Elvins.

Louis Bridges and Jack Connolly can also be utilised in attack, while Craig Wilding, currently deployed in midfield, was another option recently put forward to fire City up the league.

Adaggio, last season’s top-scorer with 14 goals, has welcomed 31-year-old McGregor into the squad and believes it can only serve City for the better over the coming months.

He said: “Competition is always a good thing. If you know your place is guaranteed in the team, that’s when players start to slack. I always find competition is a good thing and you could see it as a blessing for the club.

“It keeps us on our toes and we know we need to perform otherwise there is someone waiting to take our place.

“We have brought a new player in and we need to be scoring goals and I have been one of the culprits.”

Defensively, you would be hard pushed to find three better central defenders at Blue Square South level than captain Tom Kemp, Mark Clyde and Wayne Daniel.

Not surprisingly, given that both Dryden and assistant manager Carl Heeley plied their trade at the back, it is the team’s strongest area.

Jake Meredith was signed to be Danny McDonnell’s replacement in goal but a freak shoulder injury during the pre-season friendly against Kidderminster Harriers gave chances to Richard Mace and now Ben Hinchliffe.

Having struggled for keeper cover last term, Dryden suddenly found himself with three custodians on the books and has since had to release Mace.

“It’s a strong looking squad but it’s not just up front where we have got options.”

The signing of Matt Birley has added a further option in midfield and the manager will be hoping the former Birmingham City player can be the creative force which has often been lacking.

Adaggio added: “We have got to be perfoming every single time. I always try to give 100 per cent every time I play and that’s all that I can give.

“There are plenty of options and the gaffer is trying to play people in different positions going forward. It’s a strong looking squad but it’s not just up front where we have got options.”

Worcester City will host Redditch United in the Worcestershire Senior Cup quarter-finals on Monday, November 16 (7.45).