HEREFORD United full-back Simon Travis seems set for a surprise move to League 2 promotion chasers Stockport County.

"It is likely that Simon will be signing for Stockport on loan on Thursday until the end of the season, perhaps with a view to a longer deal," said Bulls director of football Graham Turner.

"We have plenty of cover at full-back at the moment and we still have 24 professionals so it trims our wage bill for a short time.

"Trent McClenahan has done all right for us while Rob Purdie can play on either side. We still have Alex Jeannin and Richard Rose can also play at full-back."

Twenty-nine-year-old Travis spent two seasons with the Edgley Park club earlier in his career.

He has played 122 times for Hereford since joining from Stevenage in February 2004 and has been a consistently high-quality performer in his time at Edgar Street.

With his tremendous pace and ability to play in either full-back role or in midfield, he was a crucial member of United's three Conference play-off sides and has settled in well back in the Football League.

"Simon has done well for us and we gave him an opportunity," said Turner. "He played with Stockport manager Jim Gannon earlier in his career, they came to see us on Tuesday and he is talking to them again on Thursday."

McClenahan will be favourite to resume in the right-back berth when United make the long trip to Darlington on Saturday.

Dean Beckwith and Phil Gulliver, who both played in United Reserves' 2-1 friendly defeat by Cardiff City on Monday - youth-team player James Johnson scored the Bulls' goal - will also be hoping for a recall to the United defence.

And with Steve Jennings unlikely to be fit to resume after a knee injury, Tynesider Andy Ferrell will be hoping to retain his place in the United midfield on their first ever visit to the impressive 25,000-seater Darlington Arena.

The sides drew 1-1 at Edgar Street earlier in the season when a headed goal from Tamika Mkandawire earned Hereford their point.

Gareth Sheldon, who was released from his Edgar Street contract earlier in the month, has linked up with Southern League Premier Division side Halesowen Town.