Gary Mills, the Alfreton Town manager, has both illness and injury problems in the run up to the FA Cup game at Edgar Street on Saturday. He faces problems over both goalkeeper Greg Smith and winger Chris Bettney.
According to the Alfreton Town Website: Smith damaged a wrist during last Saturday?s goalless draw at home to Stalybridge Celtic and, with Shaun Bodkin also injured, Mills moved quickly to bring in goalkeeper Adam Legzdins from Birmingham City on Tuesday morning.
Legzdins, not 19 until next late month, is a third year academy scholar with the Blues and went straight into the side on Tuesday night as the Reds made it just one defeat in the last seven games with a second successive home stalemate, a 1-1 draw with Leigh RMI.
Assistant manager Darron Gee explained: "It will be a close call whether Greg Smith will be ready for this Saturday, but Adam is a confident and assured young keeper who is highly regarded by Birmingham.
"If we have to go with Adam at Hereford it won't hold any fears for us - he did very well against Leigh and the boss is pleased with him."
Legzdins has been Birmingham's regular Academy side goalkeeper for the past two campaigns and has also been on the bench three times for the Blues Reserve side this season.
Winger Chris Bettney pulled out of Tuesday night's game at lunchtime due to illness and Mills will have to leave any decision on the winger as late as possible - particularly with Chris White likely to be out for at least another two weeks with a knee problem.
Stephen Woolley did well on Tuesday in only his second start of the season, but the youngster is short of match fitness.
The Reds also had Mick Godber sent off for violent conduct on Tuesday evening in a late mass melee in which the Leigh goalkeeper was perhaps somewhat fortunate to stay on the field.
Godber will, however, be available for selection for this Saturday's cup tie as his suspension - likely to be three games - won't start until Tuesday, November 1st.
Smith, White and Bettney aside, Mills has no other injury worries ahead of the biggest game of the season so far.
Gee also spoke about Hereford
"Yes, Hereford is a daunting prospect, but we are playing better than our league position suggests. Nobody expects us to get anything down there, but the lads are really up for it and they have been excited about the prospect since the draw was made.
"They know they are going to be playing in front of a big crowd and it is their chance to go and shine. We need a break in front of goal at the moment, the ball has been flashing all around the goal in the last two games and if we had turned one or two of several chances into goals we could quite easily have had six points instead of just the two that we have gained."
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm