Kidderminster manager Mark Yates will be watching closely as star midfielder Russell Penn bids for a first-team return at Stourbridge tonight.

The England C international is in the squad for the Worcestershire Senior Cup tie (7:45pm), after a month out with a knee injury.

Penn is hoping to come through unscathed, and then return to the fold properly for Saturday’s Blue Square Premier match against Eastbourne.

Yates is still coy on whether Penn will start at Stourbridge but, with the team struggling in his absence, he will be glad to have him back.

He said: “He will be involved, as will a number of first-teamers. There are plenty of players in the squad who need games at the moment, so some of them will get 90 minutes under their belts.

“If Russell can get through tonight, there is every chance he will be involved in the squad on Saturday. He has been in full training all week and is looking bright – it’s like having a new player in itself.

“He will play some part tonight and we will monitor him from there.”

The Harriers boss has also released defender Paul Bignot, after nearly two years at Aggborough.

Yates added: “Paul has one or two things in the pipeline, and we didn’t want to stand in his way. He leaves with our very best wishes as another good servant to the club, but we have to move on quickly.”