DEAN Sturridge is unlikely to play again for Harriers this season and could be forced to hang up his boots after a glittering career, Mark Yates has revealed.

The former Derby, Leicester and Wolves striker appears to have kicked his last ball for Kidderminster after sustaining a serious achilles problem.

Sturridge's rehabilitation from the injury is proving to be a tortuous process and Yates admitted the 33-year-old was nowhere near a recovery.

"It's touch and go if we see him on the pitch again this season, that's the harsh reality of it," said Yates.

"His rehabilitation is very slow and it's very early stages but the achilles is a sore area and it's a sore subject at the moment.

"He's not even close to playing again."

The signing of Sturridge in the summer brought an exciting air of expectation to Aggborough but the Birmingham-based forward flattered to deceive in his handful of appearance for Harriers.

He failed to find the net in two starts and four substitute appearances and things went from bad to worse when he was stretchered off against Tamworth at the start of September.

That record is unlikely to persuade Harriers to extend the one-year contract of their highest earner which expires in June - so effectively his Kidderminster career could be over before it started.

Yates is still trying to keep Sturridge involved around the club and the striker has played an actively role coaching the reserves and helping out on first-team matchdays.

He added: "He still comes in and he still helps with the reserves and he's enjoying that side of it, but he's missing the day-to-day banter of training."