HAVING not played a game for more than two weeks Gloucester City manager Dave Mehew is hoping for some Boxing Day bounce at Redditch United (3pm).

This time last year the Tigers were in the middle of an unbeaten run which eventually led to their promotion.

Now sat in the middle of the Blue Square North table Mehew said the next three matches are just as vital for his team.

And he can think of nothing better than a three point haul at Redditch's Valley Stadium on Boxing Day to set his team up for Monday's home game against Solihull Moors.

He said: "I said to the lads we have already got three points when we played Solihull before and if we come out on top from the next few matches we will be in a great position for the rest of the season.

"I saw Redditch the other week and they look hard to break down. Although we haven't played for a few weeks there will be no excuses, we have to focus on the job in hand.

"I don't think we will win every game but we are more than capable of picking up points."

Striker Ben Hunt, who joined on loan from Bristol Rovers last week goes straight into the squad after joining in with Tuesday night's training session.

A graduate of the famed West Ham United Academy, Hunt joined Rovers last summer after impressing director of football Lennie Lawrence in the exit trials held at Lilleshall.

Mehew, a former Rovers striker in his playing heyday, said the link up with his former club was working well.

He said: "Ben is in a similar situation to the one I was in 20 years ago or more. He has bought into what we are trying to do and he will score goals for us.

"It will hopefully put him in the picture for Paul Trollope's future plans at Rovers.

"I have been in touch with Darren Patterson (Rovers's head of youth) and he came to watch us when we were at Solihull. He tells me how it is with players.

"I have also been in touch with Trollope and Gary Johnson at Bristol City.

"It has worked out so far and I have a couple more irons in the fire."