Midfielder Sam Hewson will be hoping to regain his place in the Hereford United starting line-up for today's crucial League One battle against Swindon Town at the County Ground.

Hewson was dropped to the substitutes' bench for the game against Scunthorpe United on Tuesday and only made a brief appearance with three minutes remaining.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who is on loan from Manchester United, will return to Old Trafford before the end of the season and is keen to get in as many appearances as possible.

"My contract with Manchester United runs out at the end of this season so I am hoping that what I do for Hereford will convince them to offer me another one" said Hewson.

"If the worst happens, and I am released, I will have at least put myself in the shop window and may be taken on by another club".

Hewson has made six starts for Hereford and made an impression scoring three goals in games against Stockport County and Cheltenham Town.

He said: "I scored my first Football League goal at Stockport which was a personal landmark for me before the two against Cheltenham from free-kicks.

"Cheltenham were a big, aggressive side and it gave me an early lesson in the physical contact you come up against in League One" added Hewson.

Competing with Hewson for a place in midfield will be Stephen O'Leary, who was drafted back into Graham Turner's side after a long lay-off due to a back injury received against Dagenham and Redbridge last November.

The former Luton Town midfielder played for 87 minutes before being replaced by Hewson in the 3-0 defeat by Scunthorpe.

Also hoping to retain their places in the line-up are Jack McLeod and Simon Johnson, who were also in action at Glanford Park.

McLeod made his first-team debut while it was Johnson's first start for over three months.

Up front, Hereford will continue with the striking partnership of Steve Guinan and Febian Brandy in the absence of Bristol Rovers' loan man Andy Williams, who is still recovering from injury.

Despite the 3-0 drubbing at Scunthorpe, Hereford still have two games in hand on Swindon, who have eight more points on the board.

Hereford chief Graham Turner has stated they require a minimum of 48 points if they are going to avoid the drop.

"With 11 games to go we will have to produce a mighty turnaround," said Turner.

Hereford (from): Gulacsi, Rose, Diagouraga, Beckwith, Brandy, Guinan, Gwynne, Jackson, Dennehy, Hewson, Donne, O'Leary, McLeod, Johnson, Broadhurst, Viega, Smith, Antwi.