HEREFORD United face a tough task on Saturday when they resume their League 1 fixtures after a near three-week break.
The Bulls take on Oldham Athletic, who are currently third in the table and boast one of the division’s most prolific strike partnerships.
Lee Hughes has been on target 14 times this season already and has now been joined by veteran Dean Windass, who has joined the Latics on loan from Hull City until the end of the season.
Windass made his debut in Monday’s 2-0 success against Hartlepool and struck the woodwork twice.
Hereford have a little to prove after turning in one of their poorest performances of the season in a 4-0 battering at Boundary Park.
“It was one of the worst days I have had for a long time,” admitted United’s director of football Graham Turner.
“Although we created some chances, defensively we were very poor.”
Hereford have no new injury worries and, with Sam Oji and Richard Jackson joining in training, only Stephen O’Leary is still sidelined.
There are no new developments on the transfer front, however, and Turner is not expecting to add to his squad before Saturday.
“We are working hard at it but everybody is saying that they want to complete their own signings first before allowing anyone out,” he said.
Anyone arriving on an extended loan, however, will have to be over the age of 23.
Regulations permit only four extended loans in a season for players under-23 and United have used their quota with the signings of Darren Randolph, Robbie Threlfall, Moses Ashikodi and Andy Williams.
This means that United could only call on the services of Lionel Ainsworth for one further month if Watford agree to extend his current spell beyond January 20.
United’s clash at Scunthorpe United which was the victim of a late postponement last Saturday, now looks set to take place on Tuesday, March 17.
