Palmer gives Turner selection alternative

To score five goals in a local cup game is quite an achievement for any striker and, no doubt Hereford United's Marcus Palmer will be hopeful that he will now have an opportunity to start for the first team, possibly on Saturday against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Of the other Hereford strikers Theo Robinson is suspended for that game, Steve Guinan isn't yet fully recovered from injury, and Trevor Benjamin is said to be carrying an injury that may need further attention at some stage. Only new loan signing Gary Hooper is a definite starter for Saturday.

Simon Johnson may partner Hooper up front but manager Graham Turner could decide to try Palmer with Hooper and keep Johnson on the wing. With two games a week for the rest of February Trevor Benjamin may be rested ready for the difficult game expected at Rochdale next Tuesday.

It is thought that Turner is away on holiday and missed last night's encounter with Ledbury. No doubt he will be well briefed about Palmer's five goals on his return.

Later: Richard Prime of the Hereford Times has written that Palmer's five goals makes him only the fourth Hereford United player ever to have scored five in one game.

Clarence Gregory scored five three times in 1925 and 1926 seasons, Charlie Thompson did the same in 1949 and John Charles scored five twice during his stay at Edgar Street in the mid-sixties.

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