WORCESTER City manager Carl Heeley is hopeful Rob Elvins will be fit for Saturday’s Blue Square Bet North visit of Stalybridge Celtic.

The centre-half suffered a calf injury during the 2-0 victory over Boston United last weekend and was left out of Tuesday’s 2-1 Worcestershire FA Senior Cup semi-final win at Halesowen Town.

Elvins was hobbling badly in the aftermath of the Bos-ton clash but Heeley remains optimistic he will have recovered in time for Saturday.

Midfielder Gary Walker is making progress following a hamstring injury, while left-back Neil Cartwright also missed the Halesowen trip with a back problem.

Heeley said: “Gary is improving but Rob has got a lot of fluid around his calf and his shin from a nasty kick.

“We are hopeful that will settle down for the weekend and we left Neil out because he’s feeling his back.”

Despite the injuries, City fielded a strong side at The Grove as they reached the county cup final.

Goals from Mark Danks and Kevin O’Connor secured victory after sub Emmanuel Ibhadon’s long-range strike had put the Yeltz ahead.

Heeley, however, felt his team were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net during the last-four encounter.

He said: “I think at times it was too easy for us. We picked up every second ball and we over-passed.

“We had to remind the boys at half-time that we weren’t training and it wasn’t 10 passes for a goal.”

Meanwhile, keeper Tim Sandercombe has undergone surgery to repair knee cartilage and has been told to rest for six to eight weeks.