HEREFORD will be looking at the fitness levels of captain Jared Hodgkiss ahead of their league game at Farsley Celtic on Saturday.

The Bulls captain has missed the last four marches after picking up a knee injury ahead of the Curzon Ashton 2-2 draw in December.

Hereford manager Josh Gowling says the skipper is now back in training but they are monitoring his fitness levels after over a month out.

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“Jarred has been back in training this week which is pleasing to see him back around the boys,” said Gowling.

“He joined in the warm-up on Tuesday night and trained today (Thursday). With the injury he had, he had to have an injection and had a rest period when he couldn’t really do a lot.

“He’s technically available for selection but we’re just going to look at it with his fitness levels and stuff with him having such a long layoff.

Harry Pinchard has also stepped up his training regime and is ‘closer’ to returning.

Fresh from beating Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night the Bulls sit in 14th just three points outside the play-off positions.

They head to a Farsley side second from bottom with four wins from their 20 league matches.

“It’s going to be a tough game and they’re hard to break down, it’s a tough place to go,” added Gowling.

It’s fine playing at home but you need to go away from home and get a good result. They are not on great form but gave Kidderminster Harriers a good game and gave a real good account of themselves.

“They are dangerous in transition and have got a good front three. We’ve done our homework and go there looking for three points.

Krystian Pearce will serve the last of his three-match suspension but Gowling has said the makeshift defence in the absence of Pearce and Hodgkiss had done ‘absolutely tremendously’

Centre half Jamie Egan arrived on a month long work experience from Bristol Rovers, Seb Revan is on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the season and Dinesh Gillela has also arrived.

“Jamie (Egan) I’ve known about for a while,” added Gowling.

“I know a lot about Jamie and he plays in my position. I know a centre-half when I see one. He turned up at the game (against Gateshead) and hadn’t actually trained.

“He had black boots on, t-shirt tucked in and ready to go. I know it sounds old school but it’s very rare you get a young boy like that. Nowadays they are flash, brash and don’t really understand the men’s game.

“He’s a bit of a throwback to be fair and he’s done really well. I knew about Seb (Regan) as he had been a Grimsby on loan.

“I’ve been there a couple of times and spoke to people about his attributes. We knew he was going to do well when he came in.

“It’s not ideal to have two 18 year olds, Ben (Pollock) at 24 and Dinesh (Gilella) at 21. It’s a very young and inexperienced back four but they have done absolutely tremendously.

“That’s just the position we’re in we’ve had to wheel and deal.

“The games against teams scrapping for their lives are sometimes harder then against teams at the other end.

“It’s a smaller and bobbly pitch, it’s about taking our opportunities and we will get opportunities in the game I’ve sure. If we take them we’ll win the game.”