Rob Smith hungry for new Telford players after Hibbert blow

Boss Rob Smith was already looking for striking reinforcements before the Bank Holiday Monday 1-1 draw at Nuneaton, when Hibbert limped off with a problem with his left knee after an hour.

Hibbert was forced out of the professional game with a serious knee injury and Smith confirmed he wants more options up front.

"He's got dodgy knees and he's got a knee injury so it's a concern," said the Bucks chief.

"He's jarred it but hopefully it will settle down because we need all the bodies we can at the moment as we're a little bit short of numbers and a bit lightweight."

Asked if Hibbert's injury heightened the need for another striker Smith added:"Possibly yes, although we still have players up there - it depends what he's done but we are light.

"We need another body or two and we're actively working on it.

"Nothing changes - we're not where we want to be in terms of going forward and we've got to address that.

"It's that bit of quality we're missing and I need to find it.

"I've bigged up Danny Reynolds in the press but he's a little bit hit and miss, the same as 'Peersy' (Tom Peers).

"We haven't got a striker that's really on fire at the moment, whereas you look at the top sides and you'll see the same players scoring every week.

"We've been looking - we're always looking - but to get a good quality striker at this level, he's got to be better than what we've got.

"Those strikers will be playing and scoring, so if they're not playing do we want them?

"It's really difficult. We're actively looking but I'm not just going to be panicked into doing it."

Meanwhile, Smith claimed his side were denied two penalties after Danny Reynolds and Luca Havern appeared to be fouled.

"Danny Reynolds was demolished in the box and he gave it as a foul the other way and Luca got took down as well," he said.

"When your luck's down, your luck's down but they were two stonewall penalties."

Centre back Ben Bailey made his full debut as Dan Preston missed the game through illness, while James Hurst only lasted the first half.

Smith said Hurst's withdrawal - which allowed Micah Evans a lively outing - was down to lack of match fitness.

The draw left Telford 14th in National League North after Josh Wilson cancelled out Aaron Williams's 23rd-minute opener 12 minutes from time with a long overdue equaliser to earn Smith's side a more-than-deserved point.