James Vincent could miss Harriers trip

Kidderminster Harriers midfielder James Vincent was today set to miss out on a return to former club Stockport County for the first time.

Vincent is still struggling with the knee injury that has ruled him out of the last four games and could miss tomorrow's trip to Edgeley Park.

The 22-year-old will be gutted to sit it out - he came through the youth ranks with the Hatters and spent a total of 14 years on their books.

When Stockport were relegated from the Football League after 106 years last season, Vincent was released from his boyhood club.

Harriers came calling with a one-year contract in June as both the Glossop-born enforcer and Stockport adapted to life in non-league football.

But Vincent has already faced his former club, seeing out the full 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw at Aggborough in the fourth game of the season.

They were all square that night in the Blue Square Premier but have gone in vastly different directions since.

Harriers are now in the play-offs while Stockport are only out of the relegation places on goal difference.

Jim Gannon replaced Dietmar Hamann as manager in November and Harriers boss Steve Burr has been taken aback by their predicament.

Burr said: "I thought they were a decent side here and I am very surprised at where they find themselves in the table.

"They came early in the season and looked a very useful team indeed. But we are on a good run at the moment and the lads are full of confidence.

"Hopefully, we can keep on pushing on and progressing like we have been doing lately.

"There have been a lot of good individual performances, as well as how well the team are playing at the minute."

Vincent is a big doubt but still has a better chance of making tomorrow's game than right-back Lee Vaughan and midfielder Jack Byrne.

Vaughan is still not ready to return after a hamstring injury, while Byrne is making his way back from a knee problem.

Both are more likely to return for next Saturday's FA Trophy third round tie at home to Luton.