BOSS Matty Holmes is keen to get birthday boy Luke Holmes involved when Wimborne Town visit Shortwood tonight as he does not want "a bear with a sore head" on his hands.

Attacking player Luke – the manager's son – sat out Magpies' win over Wantage on Saturday due to a back problem but will hope to mark turning 20 with an appearance in the Southern South & West clash at Meadowbank.

Matty Holmes told the Daily Echo: "Hopefully, we will be able to get him on the pitch. It's his birthday so if he is not playing football he will be like a bear with a sore head!

"Hopefully, he can play against Shortwood as a little birthday present. We will definitely take him. We hope to get him on the bench and will make a substitution if we need to.

"It depends on his back but he was feeling a lot better on Saturday. But it wasn't worth the risk. We didn't want him to play and then be out for the rest of the season."

Matty Holmes had been due to check on Carl Preston's knee complaint ahead of the journey to Gloucestershire. Preston was replaced with 12 minutes remaining against Wantage.

Wimborne could go as high as 10th place with victory against Shortwood.