Birch on verge of new loan

Striker Gary Birch could be set for a third month away from AFC Telford, with boss Rob Smith eager to send him back out on loan.

The former Walsall and Lincoln forward has been struggling with a niggling injury since returning from a second month at Rushall, but came through training last night unscathed.

And Smith now wants to sit down with him tomorrow and recommend he returns to the Southern League side for another four weeks.

"My opinion is that up front is the one area where we're not light at the moment, and Gary still needs games," said Smith."He has lost match fitness again while he has been out injured and it would benefit him to go there for another month. He could get a real run of games over Christmas then, but we'll just see how he feels first."

Midifelder Jamie Vermiglio went to hospital yesterday with pain in his ribs following a knock in Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Barrow.

But doctors decided against an X-ray, preferring to to put him on a course of painkillers instead.

"There's nothing they can do for a cracked rib anyway, so we'll just have to see how it goes," added Smith.

Defender Richard Teesdale returned to full training last night and has now been pencilled in for a run-out for the reserves next week.

A young reserve side featuring several trialists defeated Worcester City 3-0 in the Central Conference League last night.