AFC Telford looking to make a late signing

Boss Steve Kittrick has a couple of calls to make, with a view to adding to his small squad as he prepares the players for two long trips this week.

The Bucks return to action in Essex at Braintree Town tomorrow night after a free weekend, followed by Dover away on Saturday.

But Bucks staff reckon it's likely to be a case of fleshing out the numbers rather than adding vastly better players at this stage of the season.

Coach Andy Pryce said: "It's numbers we need and I think it will be a case of adding quantity rather than quality, because we're only running with an 18-man squad.

"There might be something, but with the loan window closing it will be the early part of the week.

"But if not then we're hoping with what we've got, we'll have enough for the rest of the season."

Kittrick added: "We have to be very careful what we take. I've got to talk to one or two people to see where we are, but we're only looking at extra numbers."

Telford are hoping to get a protective mask for defender Rod McDonald to play in, after he suffered what looks like a second broken nose in three months.

Sam Smith could be fit for the Dover game following a hamstring injury, after his knock was revealed to be not as bad as first feared.

And the Bucks need all the help they can get after mixed fortunes for their rivals left them resuming action after a week without playing with their Conference future hanging by a thread.

They are 16 points adrift with only seven games left after the weekend games.

Second-bottom Dartford lost 2-0 at Southport, while next-placed Nuneaton Town surprisingly won 1-0 at fourth-placed Macclesfield and fourth-bottom Welling were thrashed 5-0 at leaders Barnet.

Club officials are still trying to contact the surgeon who operated on Jack Rea, so he can take a look at the player's knee injury.