Thomas Skovbjerg's is to start his comeback this Wednesday in a reserve match against Nuneaton at Aggborough.

Tommy, who sustained a serious knee injury on March 11th during the Conference clash with Altrincham, has spent the last week at Lilleshall for tests and the results have proved to be positive.

Jan Molby said:
"Thomas has worked very hard to get back to where he is now and I'm delighted for him.
It was a very serious injury he got earlier this year and it would have been easy for him to given everything up, but Thomas is a determined character.

The light is now at the end of the tunnel for him.
Having him back will boost our progress in this league but supporters must appreciate it will take quite a while for him to regain his full fitness and I am confident he will."

(courtesy of the official website)

After Saturdays long overdue home win against York, Jan was in a more upbeat frame of mind come Monday morning.

He now feels that we may have turned the corner and the confidence should come flooding back.

"I'm pleased to have the three points.
It's exactly what we needed and the right tonic for tomorrow's FA Cup replay at Burton."

"I thought some of our approach play and movement was excellent.
It wasn't an outstanding performance for the full 90 minutes but we gave ourselves a tremendous cushion with three goals in the opening 30 minutes."

"Some of our play was very good and some was a little bit patchy but it was a home win and three goals and at least we have a starting point now.
We are looking for more, but it was better.
I've got no doubt about the ability in the squad but ability isn't enough, you have got to have other things like desire."

"Confidence also comes into it and you only get that from one thing which is by playing well, scoring goals and winning games.
There's still a lot of things we can do better and believe me we will, but it's now as if the season starts all over again."

Jan thinks that tomorrows FA Cup first round replay with Burton will be easier to win, because the game is not at Aggborough.

He thinks that Burton wouldn't dare to play as they did in the first match in front of their own fans.

"We fancy our chances.
I don't think they can play again the way they did at Aggborough with everybody behind the ball.
"There will be a big crowd and their fans will demand that they come at us, so hopefully that will make for a bit more of an opening game."

The winners of the replay will play Carlisle United in round two and Harriers will also play them in the LDV Vans Trophy on December 5th.

Mark Shail also thinks that Burton have got to come out and play against us.

"Burton will have to come at us a bit more so it's down to us to break them down and deal with whatever they throw at us.
"It will be difficult at their place but it should be a much more open game and hopefully we'll be able to take our chances."

Harriers hope to unveil their new signings, Neil Mackenzie and Parfait Medou-Oyte in tomorrows game at Aggborough against York City.
Both are expected to start the game on the bench but the other 'new' signing, John Durnin, will start the game as first choice striker.

24yr old Mackenzie will be able to make his debut now that he has decided to drop his appeal against Cambridge's recent decision to terminate his contract.
And 23yr old Medou-Oyte, who has signed an 18 month contract, has a slight groin strain but should be OK.

Definitely not playing will be Dean Bennett (cut eye) and Paul Webb (groin).

Jan said that the new blood did not mean that there would be a clear out:
"There's no pressure from the Board to off-load.
Obviously, the situation could change if one or two players become unhappy. What we've got now is that we are starting to get some real competition for places and I think that's important."

About tomorrows game he had this to say:
"The York game is another one of those where you look at it and think we have got a chance.
It's at Aggborough where we don't score a lot of goals, but on the other hand it's got to change sooner rather than later."

The Harriers haven't won in their last five League and one FA Cup games at Aggborough, they have scored only twice and have fallen to 14th place, their lowest position,in the League.
Jan says that should all change now:
"We know we have to improve our record here, and I feel we can start tomorrow.
We have just had one of the best weeks in training since I've been here and the players are buzzing.
If that's anything to go by then I'm confident we can win.

The additions we have made have also given everyone a lift and people are looking over their shoulders in a number of positions."

York, who are 5 places below Harriers in 19th position, are seeking their third successive win after hitting seven in their last two games, four in the FA Cup win at Radcliffe last week.
York have a potent strike force with two loan strikers,Neil Tarrant (Villa) and Chris Iwelumo (Stoke)as well as seven goal top scorer David McNiven and Alex Mathie, the ex Ipswich striker.
But they will be without long-term injured Peter Duffield, Peter Swan, Chris Fairclough, Gary Hobson and Christian Fox.

Kidderminster (from): Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Shail, Hinton, Smith, Bird, Horne, Foster, Ducros, Hadley, Bogie, Clarke, Davies, Corbett, Durnin, Mackenzie, Medou-Oyte.

York (from): Fettis, Edmondson, Sertori, Hocking, Hall, Hulme, Bullock, Agnew, Iwelumo, McNiven, Tarrant, Howarth, Jones, Stamp, Mathie, Jordan, Potter.

Referee: P Joslin (Newark)

Harriers, today, made their 3rd signing of the week when they signed that French chappie, Parfait Medou-Oyte, from Greenock Morton on an 18 month contract.

Jan Molby was delighted to bring the 23yr old utility man to Aggborough to end a hectic week of transfer activity, he has already signed John Durnin and Neil MacKenzie on permanent deals.

"We added strength to what was a very small squad.
The ball is now in the players' court and there is now real competition for places."

"Parfait is another player who is very versatile, and will put pressure on the centre-back and right-back positions."

Parfait has already been given the nickname of 'Titi' by fellow team mates because of his resemblance to Liverpool's Titi Camara.

Harriers today signed ex Cambridge Utd midfielder Neil Mackenzie.

He was sacked by Utd a couple of weeks ago after an incident with a taxi driver that led to him spending the night in police cells and being charged with a public order offence.
MacKenzie,24, who lives near Kidderminster, will appear in court in the New Year on charges of failing to pay a taxi fare and racially abusing a taxi driver.

Cambridge paid Stoke £45,000 just over a year ago and MacKenzie was a regular in their line-up, playing 23 Second Division games last season.

"Neil has trained for us for the last week and he is a player who is very mobile and agressive in everything he does; he is a strong passer and strong at shooting," said Jan Molby.

It was not the first time that Utd manager Roy McFarland had disciplined the former Stoke City player - he was one of three guilty of "unacceptable behaviour" at a sporting dinner earlier this year.

After the Dylan Kerr episode earlier in the season it is obvious that if Mackenzie doesn't toe the line then Jan will not hesitate in treating him in the same manner.

Keeper Matt Boswell who has been on trial at Aggborough for the past few weeks has now joined Bilston Town.

And tonights game at Plymouth was called off earlier today because of a waterlogged pitch.

After Dean Bennetts crunching clash of heads, with Burtons Darren Wassall on Saturday, comes the news that he needed 10 stitches around his left eye and will be out for at least 2 weeks.
He will certainly miss the game at Plymouth tomorrow and against York this Saturday. Hopefully he will make his return for the Cup replay at Burton on Tuesday week.

Jan is convinced that the Harriers can bounce back in the Cup replay at Burton because he doesn't think that they would dare to play so defensively in front of thier own fans.

"Burton will have 3,000 fans at the replay and they won't let them play like they did against us. In the second half they had every man behind the ball and there's no way they can play that way again".

The Harriers finalised the signing of John Durnin today and also hope to sign Parfait Medou-Otye, (nickname needed here please), before the end of the week.
PM-O is on a months trial from Morton along with keeper Matthew Boswell.
Jan is hoping these signings will improve our goals for column, especially after the lack of goals in recent weeks and in Saturdays Cup tie against a team two divisions below us.

"We have to be disappointed but thats the FA Cup for you. It's no great surprise that once again we failed to finish and it's something we are working on.
But I refuse to accept that our best chance has gone".

Harriers may be playing fellow Third Division side Carlisle United in both major cups in the coming weeks.

Firstly in the First Round of the LDV Vans Trophy (formally known as the Autowindscreens Shield) following the draw this morning.
And then if we beat Burton Albion in the FA Cup replay on November 28th we will go on to face them again at home in the second round.

The LDV Trophy clash is scheduled to take place the week commencing 4th December at Aggborough.
Harriers will be looking to get their revenge for the 1-0 league defeat in September.
The second round FA Cup tie is due to be played the weekend of December 9th.

FULL DRAW HERE

Swindon v Gateshead
Walsall v Barnet
Bournemouth v Stoke City or Nuneaton Borough
Scunthorpe v Brighton
Kidderminster or Burton Albion v Carlisle Utd
Cardiff or Bristol Rovers v Cheltenham
Radcliffe Borough or York v Reading
Chester City or Plymouth v Oxford
Canvey Island or Port Vale v Torquay or Southend
Blackpool v Yeovil
Wigan v Gravesend & Northfleet or Notts County
Darlington v Luton Town
Leigh RMI or Millwall v Wycombe
Rotherham v Northampton
Bristol City v Kettering Town or Hull
Bury or Northwich Victoria v Leyton Orient
Southport v Kingstonian
Mansfield or Peterborough v Oldham
Lincoln v Dagenham & Redbridge
Morecambe v Cambridge Utd

For the last few days the media has been full of hype about the pairing of Jan Molby and Nigel Clough in tomorrows FA Cup 1st round game at Aggborough.
But all that the Harriers fans will be interested in is wether we can get through to the next round or come a cropper against a side from two divisions below us.

Jan also thinks it may not be as easy as he would like;
"There's no doubt in my mind that if we play to our ability then we will be favourites.
They will make it difficult for us and with the run we are having at the moment in the league it only makes it a bigger game for us. We need to start winning and I hope we put up a good performance.
Our confidence is not at an all time low, although it is starting to take a little bit of a knock. But I firmly believe we can turn the confidence around with one good performance.

You have got to be careful, though, because they are winning and we aren't. They have lost only one game this season in all competitions.
It's a bit like us last season when we got into that mould where we weren't losing."

The only injury worry in the Harriers camp is Paul Webb who has a slim chance of being fit to play because of a groin injury. Although Adie Smith has also been struggling with groin trouble he should be fit for tomorrow.

Definitely not playing is John Durnin whose month long contract expired last Saturday after the defeat at Hartlepool, he has not come to any agreement with Jan regarding a new deal and so is ineligible to play tomorrow.

Playing for Burton tomorrow should the former Birmingham City centre half Darren Wassall.
Darren is the son of former Harriers midfield legend Brendan Wassall who scored 269 goals during his spell at Aggborough from 1962-74.
And his uncle was the late Peter Wassall, a record-breaking scorer for the Harriers from 1963-74 when he scored 448 goals.

Harriers (from):
Brock, Clarkson, Shail, Hinton, Stamps, Ducros, Webb, Smith, Bennett, Foster, Hadley, Bird, Bogie, Horne, Clarke, Davies, Corbett.

Burton (from):
Duke, Kavanagh, Henshaw, Glasser, Blount, Starbuck, Wassall, Stride, Lyons, Anderson, Clough, Webster, Moore, Davies, Goodwin, Garner, Walshe.

Referee: Lee Cable (Woking)

Jan Molby is getting very worried about the Reds inability to defend against set pieces.
Defending that has cost results in recent weeks.
Seven of the last nine goals that the Harriers have conceded have come from corners or free kicks rather than open play.

With the Harriers facing Burton Albion in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday Jan is looking for an improvement.
He is concentrating on how to defend against set pieces in training this week, and he said:
"We do have massive problems defending corners and free kicks, but in open play we look as good, if not, better, than most teams we have played."

"We need to be more determined in both penalty boxes. When you have chances you need to go in with determination.
Somebody might have to break their nose to score a goal, but it's worth it, isn't it?"

"Equally, you will have to take a couple of stitches on a cut above the eye to stop the opposition scoring.
I believe the ability to defend corners and free kicks is nothing to do with how tall a player is. It's to do with alertness and awareness.
If you are hell bent on getting to the ball before your man, you will do that however tall you are.

We did it magnificently last season against some very big Conference players and I believe we can do it again."

Jan Molby is in talks with ex-Harrier, Andy Brownrigg, in a bid to salvage something from the mess he seems to be in with Scottish club Greenock Morton.

Harriers sold Andy to them before the start of the season for £25,000 but have not received a penny of the fee so far.
Andy has never played for Morton or been paid any wages due to him because of problems with their Chairman.
From reports filtering back from Scotland he is not the only one.

"I have spoken to Andrew and I would welcome him back" said Jan "At the time we agreed to transfer him it seemed like a good deal for us. But at the moment it probably looks like a bad deal because we miss his mobility in midfield."

In a twist to the tale it seems that the two that came on trial last week, Parfait Medou-Oyte and Matt Boswell, were both playing for Morton and are in the same situation as Brownrigg as regards wages.

John Durnin is expected to sign a contract for us this week now that his loan period has ended.
He is believed to have had a re-think about his wage demands.

Skipper Ian Clarkson blamed the Harriers habit of giving away goals from corners for Saturdays defeat at Hartlepool.
Clarkson said:
"We were 1-0 up at half time and well in control, but we gave away goals from set-pieces again, which has cost us.
We are just not doing our jobs individually and collectively. It was a similar story the previous week against Cheltenham."

Hartlepool's first two goals were from poorly defended corners as were similar corners against Lincoln (2), Darlington, Chesterfield and Cheltenhams.
Harriers have now slumped to 14th place in the league, our lowest position so far this season.

With the news that the weather seems to be improving in the North East of the country it looks likely that tomorrows game should get the go ahead.
Up till yesterday both goalmouths at Hartlepools Victoria Ground were underwater but, with an improvement in the weather, the pitch conditions improved enough for the mid morning inspection to be cancelled.

Expected to make their returns are Mark Shail, Paul Webb and John Durnin who makes his last appearance for the Harriers unless he signs on the dotted line during the coming week.

Tony Bird should make the starting line-up after his double strike against Kingstonian on Tuesday evening and Assistant Manager, Gary Barnett, had this to say about Birdy's comeback;

"He's staked his claim by scoring a couple of very good goals.
I must admit that the crosses for him were of good quality and thats what he thrives on.
That was the service he was getting in pre-season and hopfully now the boys can provide a bit more for him."

Harriers (from):
Clarke, Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Webb, Shail, Hinton, Smith, Horne, Foster, Ducros, Bird, Bogie, Hadley, Bennett, Durnin.

Hartlepool (from):
Williams, Harmison, Strodder, Tinkler, Baker, Westwood, Shilton, Miller, Stephenson, Midgley, McAvoy, Hollund, Knowles, Fitzpatrick, Clark, Boyd.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)

Tony Bird said he was relieved that he has finally ended his goal drought with his two against Kingstonian in last nights game.
Since getting a barrowload of goals in the pre-season friendlies he hasn't scored once in the Nationwide league.

"People seem to have bad runs in the middle of the season but mines come right at the start.
It's great to get two goals and hopefully I can start scoring regularly."

Jans view was;
"We probably had 90% to 95% of the play and although we passed it around there was no real urgency and the quality into the penalty area wasn't good enough"

Jan Molby says that he wants to make another loan signing very soon but it all depends on the outcome of talks with the Harriers other loanee, John Durnin.
He won't name the player that he's interested in but he says that it is someone that is different to anyone in the existing squad.

"It's only fair our supporters know we're doing everything we can to ensure we get that missing spark back into our season...
...It will also depend on whether we can sign John Durnin on a permanent basis.
Everyone can rest assured though that if there are any developments we'll make sure our fans get the news as soon as possible."

Jan has been forced to make changes for tonights J C Thompson Shield match against Kingstonian.
Out are Paul Webb (groin strain), Mark Shail (head injury), John Durnin (hamstring) and the jinxed Steve Pope (flu).

Both Ian Foster and Tony Bird are expected to start tonight with Ben Davies and maybe on trial keeper Matt Boswell on the bench.

Molby says that he must take the game tonight seriously although the team are tired and could have done with a rest after Saturdays battle with Cheltenham.

"We could have done without it if I'm being honest. We were looking forward to a November free of midweek games but we now find ourselves with two.
Theres this one tonight and the re-arranged match with Plymouth."

"I know Kingstonian will provide us with a tough test".

Harriers (from):
Clarke, Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Hinton, Smith, Horne, Foster, Ducros, Bird, Bogie, Hadley, Bennett, Boswell, Davies.

Jan Molby wants the strikers to show a more ruthless streak in front of goal.

"We created a lot more chances than we had in recent games and we had four tremendous opportunities.
John Durnin missed three of these and we just have to learn to be more ruthless in taking our chances."

The Harriers failure to turn their first half chances into goals allowed Cheltenham to hit back for the equaliser.

Molby said:
"I don't think it's a great surprise a local derby ending in a stalemate.
The game was played at a great pace. We were on top in the first half and they were on top in the second.
The pleasing thing is that when they were on top in the second half they didn't create any chances compared to those we created in the first half.

I thought our opportunities were better than they have been in any game.
We had four clear cut chances and surely you must score, but their goal was disappointing because it was from another set piece.
The boy peeled off and headed into an empty net."


Two trialists are at Aggborough this week.

French utility man Parfait Medou-Oyte has played for Le Havre and the other is a goalkeeper, Matthew Boswell.
Boswell is the son of former Wolves goalie Alan Boswell.
He has already had spells at Port Vale and Irish side Sligo.

They may both get their chance in tomorrows JC Thompson Shield game with FA Trophy holders Kingstonian.

Assistant Manager Gary Barnett said that:
"There may be a few changes for the Kingstonian game and that may give us the chance to have a look at them in action".

There looks to be an almost full squad for the visit of Cheltenham tomorrow.
The only one missing will be long term injury victim, Thomas Skovbjerg.
Ian Foster is still having treatment for his hamstring injury but this is thought to be only a precaution and he is certain to at least be on the bench.

But it could be the last game for on loan striker John Durnin.
Unless a deal can be sorted out this week he looks to be on the way to another, un-named, 3rd Division club.

Harriers (from):
Clarke, Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Webb, Hinton, Smith, Horne, Foster, Ducros, Shail, Durnin, Bird, Bogie, Hadley, Bennett, Murphy.

Cheltenham (from):
Book, Duff, Freeman, Banks, McCann, Devaney, Yates, Howells, McAuley, Grayson, Alsop, Bloomer, White, Jackson, Hopkins.

Referee; S Mathieson (Stockport)

Transfer listed Steve Pope may be playing for Redditch Utd tomorrow in a FA Trophy game against Grantham with a view to a permanent move.

Jan Molby believes the return of former boss Graham Allner to Aggborough will add to Saturday's clash with Cheltenham.
Allner, who is now reserve team coach at Cheltenham, will be aiming to help Cheltenham manager, Steve Cotterill, mastermind Harriers downfall along with former Kidderminster captain Mark Yates.

Jan said:
"In miles Shrewsbury would be our local derby, but I think the links with Cheltenham are stronger from our non-league days, and also the fact we are the last two seasons' Nationwide Conference champions.

Graham Allner will also add a little bit of spice to the event, but as far as we are concerned it's another game and it's another three points we need. I'm sure their manager will say the same to his boys.
They had a fantastic start to the season where they weren't conceding many goals, but they are just having a little bit of a wobble with what they will think a couple of disappointing results.

There's no doubt they will come here and they will be fired up."