Trophy test at Hereford for Torquay United

The FA Trophy returns to the centre stage for Torquay United on Saturday and a tricky trip to Hereford from the National League North awaits.

The immediate incentive for the Gulls is a place in the last 16, and moving a step closer to Wembley, but the bigger picture is about building momentum for the crucial league games to come.

Injuries have been the dominant factor at Plainmoor over the past couple of months and limited resources have undoubtedly played a part in a recent run of three games without victory.

The upside for manager Gary Johnson is the knowledge that a winning sequence can start at anytime and his team will have games in hand for the bread and butter of a promotion push.

“We’ve got to fight through this little patch and be careful of not looking at the league table too deeply because we’re going to be games behind,” said Johnson.

“We play Hereford on Saturday in the FA Trophy, so we will have games in hand on a lot of the teams. Teams have played more games than us, which is not points in the bag, but it is games.

“If we do have a good run in the FA Trophy, we’re going to be more games behind and we’ll need to try very hard to get a bigger squad. We look forward to getting the injured lads back and they’re all narrowly getting closer.

“A lot of them have seen specialists this week and they all have games that they’re striving for. We think there will be two or three back after the Hereford game and, beyond that, some for the Worthing game (on January 27). We’re hoping to have seven or eight players back into first-team football.

“The Trophy is the highest priority at the moment because that’s our next game. I’m sorry I always say that, but it’s true, you want to win every game, whoever it is against.

“Winning breeds good habits because, every time you lose one, you have to work even harder to start a run.

“We can all watch the games, dissect it and pause it because you have to know the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses, as they will with us. You do your preparation but focus on making us dangerous for them.

“If you play your own game, you bring out the other team’s deficiencies, but everyone thinks like that. The North and South Leagues have got a lot stronger, and there are some very good managers about.

“Tactically, our players have to go out there and perform. It will be a tough game but we’re looking forward to playing at a nice stadium. It will be a good one to win because you look at the FA Trophy differently once you start getting into the last 16.”

Managed by former Scotland international Paul Caddis, Hereford currently sit fifth in the National League North.