EVESHAM United boss Paul Collicutt does not plan to directly replace Army-bound Archie Haskayne despite currently being a second midfielder down.

Haskayne is set to make his farewell appearance for the Robins on December 15 at home to Street before heading off to pursue a new career.

That means Collicutt will be keeping a close eye on the progress of Joe Tumelty who has been sidelined in recent weeks due to problems arising from a double hernia operation over the summer.

But with Ashley Williams coming back into the equation, appearing from the bench in Saturday's 1-0 home win over Paulton Rovers, the manager reckons he has adequate cover in the middle of the park.

“I would like to think we have enough in the squad without replacing Archie, players will be given an opportunity to stake their claims but we will wait and see," said Collicutt.

“Joe is struggling at the minute, we are waiting to hear from his specialist because he has been feeling a lot of pain during games.

“We have pulled him out of the equation but hope he will be back in the near future."

Haskayne and Williams, who has been out with ligament damager since August Bank Holiday, are in contention for central slots when United travel to Bristol Manor Farm in Southern League Division One West tomorrow (Friday, 7.45).

The fixture has been moved due to the sixth-bottom hosts holding an event at their stadium on Saturday with Collicutt anticipating a tougher test that the standings suggest.

“It is something a bit different being on a Friday night and it will be a tough game against a side I believe to be in a false position,” he added.

“They haven’t quite clicked in the way you would expect but when you look at what they have on paper, it is a very strong squad and it would not surprise me to see them climb.

“At the start of the season I saw them as one of the favourites, they have healthy resources and one of the best strikers in the league in Owen Howe.

“They haven’t had the best of starts but you see them signing players most weeks and have just brought in Jamie Bird from Hereford."

Captain Linden Dovey is unlikely to feature but is “hopefully only another week away”, while Carl Brown could miss out.

Collicutt also reported Will Tunnicliff, who recently turned down a move to league rivals Cirencester Town, is one of four players to become "fully-fledged Evesham United players" having initially joined on dual registration from Gloucester.

The others are wingers Tyrone Tucker-Dixon and Adam Page and keeper Andy Hannah.