Trewick monitors Nigerian striker

Benedict Akwuegbu (left) in action for Nigeria against Japan

Hereford United manager John Trewick says he will monitor the progress of striker Benedict Akwuegbu before deciding if he merits a contract.

He told BBC Hereford and Worcester the 35-year-old has the experience but he needs to prove his fitness.

"He can certainly play the game as he is a powerful boy who is good in the air with a good strike," Trewick said.

"Whether he can regain that fitness is a guess but I am going to go along with him for a while and see what develops."

Akwuegbu was a member of the 2002 Nigerian World Cup when his only game of the tournament was against England.

He played for the Bulls in the 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat by Bristol Rovers.

I'll give the boys who are in a the moment a fair crack of the whip and then decide

John Trewick

Trewick says he is still looking to add to his squad but is prepared to allow the current crop of trialists more time to prove themselves.

"I'll probably have to be patient a little bit so I'll give the boys who are in a the moment a fair crack of the whip and then decide," he said.

"It would be fair to say there are still additional places to be had in the squad.

"We're without three players - Darren Dennehy, Darren Jones and Glen Southam, who has been injured for a while, so Glen as attacking player will give us an extra dimension when he comes back in."

Trewick felt the Bristol Rovers game had been a good one to have at this stage of their preparations and it gives them something to build on ahead of their final warm-up match against Walsall on Saturday, 1 August.

"I'm obviously disappointed with the result as I thought at half-time that we had had the best chances in the first half," he said.

"Missing a penalty in the second half was a little bit disappointing.

"We started a little bit sloppily in the second half and paid for it but it was a good work out so I am relatively happy," he added.

Joe Kuffour scored both goals for the Pirates while Hereford's late consolation effort came when Rovers defender David Pipe could only chest a Franck Padovani cross into his own net.