WORCESTER City give fitness tests to influential midfielders Mat Birley and George Forsyth ahead of Tuesday’s visit to unbeaten Coventry Sphinx (7.45pm).

City pursue their first victory of the season but will be missing suspended defender Luke English with ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Adam Osbourne set to come into the squad for the first time since signing.

Player-coach Birley has a tight hamstring while Worcester fear the versatile Forsyth has suffered a recurrence of the knee injury that kept him out earlier this term.

But City manager John Snape is optimistic that a strong contingent of away fans from Worcester will help cheer them on to a Midland League Premier Division success at Sphinx Drive.

Snape said: “Our first win is much-needed. We’ll stick to our principles and the squad is made up right.

“In a few of the games we have been unlucky not to take all three points.

“Coventry had a good win away from home on Saturday (2-0 at AFC Wulfrunians) and will be buoyant.

“With the support we’ve had so far, I think a few (fans) will travel over and that will stand us in good stead.”

Snape added there were a few potential new signings in the pipeline but finances would dictate whether they could be brought in.

City are third from bottom in the early table with Saturday’s 2-2 home draw against Coventry United watched by 346 fans following a 3-2 defeat at Boldmere St Michaels and 2-1 loss at Romulus.

Worcester also exited the FA Cup in unfortunate fashion with a penalty shoot-out replay defeat to league rivals Walsall Wood after being denied by an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 away draw.

Although Sphinx lost 1-0 to Whitchurch Alport in the cup, they have drawn 0-0 at much-fancied Highgate United before beating Dunkirk 2-0, Lye Town 1-0 and Wulfrunians without conceding a goal.

Jamie Towers, Joshua O’Grady, Charlie Faulkner, Callum Woodward and Chris Sterling have shared their goals so far.

Westfields are also in Premier Division action on Tuesday at Wulfrunians (7.45pm).

Stourport Swifts go to Romulus tonight (7.45pm).