STOURPORT Swifts will be without injured super-sub Richard Burgess for their Southern Football League Division One Midlands visit to Rothwell tomorrow.

Burgess stepped off the bench to score in last weekend's 2-2 home draw against Stourbridge - but has suffered a recurrence of his ongoing back problem.

Boss Phil Mullen is hoping to draft in a short-term solution to his striking shortage ahead of tomorrow's trip to Northamptonshire, but insists Burgess's absence will be a blow.

"He's had a long-term back injury and it's flared up again so we will be without him and Dean Curtis who is still two or so weeks away with his hamstring," said Mullen.

"Burgess has not been fit enough to start games but he's been a useful player to have on the bench because he can liven things up.

"He's a good player at this level because he's on the front foot and he puts defenders on the back foot.

"He doesn't score enough goals from the chances he gets but he certainly worries enough defences."

Meanwhile, Mullen was full of praise for the way his players performed in their draw with high-flying Stourbridge last weekend.

The Walshes Meadow boss expected his side to go on and win the game after twice taking the lead.

But he said: "The lads were all disappointed that we conceded the equaliser, but I told them that we're going to have setbacks along the way.

"If we play anything like that in the majority of games then we'll end up with a lot of points in the bag."