The 25-year-old has already spent several weeks training with the Hatters and is set to play in next Tuesday’s Manchester Senior Cup tie against Rochdale.

County are in the hunt for another shot-stopper after the departure of Matt Glennon on transfer deadline day, leaving Ian Ormson as the only recognised goalkeeper in the first team squad.

“This is a good opportunity for Morten to come in here to train and compete with Ian Ormson for the number one position,” Jim Gannon commented on the official website.

6′ 5″ Bredal-Thorsen has spent the last two seasons at Tromsdalen in his native country while studying at university.

Sheridan joined the fellow Blue Square Bet Premier side on an initial month-long deal last week, and netted on his debut in the Sandgrounders 2-0 win over Hayes & Yeading on Saturday.

Southport are currently in the hunt for the play-offs, and the former Bolton youngster says he would rather stay at Haig Avenue than face a relegation battle at Edgeley Park.

“Ideally, I would like it to be longer,” he told the Southport Visitor.

“The choice is a play-off campaign with Southport, or a relegation battle with Stockport. And without being disrespectful to Stockport, a relegation battle is not a nice position for any player to be in.

“If you make a mistake in a position like that, there is real pressure on you. At a team playing for the play-offs there is a lot more freedom to enjoy your football.

“Playing on Saturday, it was easy to see the difference between Southport and Stockport. Southport know how to win games, and once they went a goal up they were solid and secure.”

Sheridan’s loan move came as a surprise to many, with the player having made 20 appearances for the Hatters this season, but after losing his place in first team recently, boss Jim Gannon decided a temporary move would keep him fresh.

The 22-year-old admits the move was somewhat of a shock to him as well, but was glad to get started at Southport.

“It was a weird one to be honest,” he said.

“I didn’t expect the move to come about as it did.

“My manager at Stockport rang me out of the blue on Wednesday night and said the deal was on, and by Thursday night I was training with Southport, so it was a bit of a mad one really.

“It was a bit daunting, but in all honesty you should look forward to playing in any game, regardless. I knew I was moving to Southport to play games, so I was glad to get started straight away.

Big earners Matt Glennon and Mark Lynch have been released by mutual consent, along with midfielders John Miles and Ryan McCann. The latter three have seen little first team football this season, while Glennon has lost his place as first choice goalkeeper to Ian Ormson in recent weeks.

Speaking to the official website about the departures, Gannon commented: ”All the lads are experienced players and have become frustrated by their lack of first team action recently, and with the financial restraints on the club they were unlikely to play a part in next seasons squad.

“After positive discussions between myself and all four it suits all parties for the players to look for the opportunity of first team football elsewhere. I would like to thank Matt, Mark, Ryan and John for their efforts whilst with Stockport County and wish all four players good luck in their future careers.”

There was positive news with the loan deals of Aaron Cole and Danny L Rowe being extended, while Joe Connor has been rewarded for a series of impressive displays since signing on non-contract terms by being handed a permanent deal until the end of the season.

Derby County loanee Cole will now stay at Edgeley Park until the end of the season, with Fleetwood Town’s Rowe staying for an additional month.

There was also talk Jim Gannon was attempting to bring back Michael Paton on loan from Aberdeen but the move never materialised.

Goals from Sean McConville (pictured) and Danny L Rowe gave the Hatters a two goal lead, before Harriers striker Nick Wright pulled a goal back. The away side did have chances to level but were wasteful in front of goal.

Jim Gannon stuck with the same starting eleven that earned a draw against AFC Telford the previous Tuesday as County looked for a much needed second victory of the month.

The first big chance of the match was presented to Kidderminster in the opening minutes when a poor back-pass from Carl Piergianni was seized upon by Callum Gittins, but his low drive was well stopped by Ian Ormson.

Harriers continued to do the early pressing, without ever really creating any clear goalscoring opportunities. They did force several corners; all of which came to nothing.

It was County who took the lead however on 20 minutes. Ormson’s long clearance forward was flicked on by Tom Elliott to Sean McConville whose well placed side-foot finish wrong-footed Kiddy keeper Tony Breeden.

Some neat play from Jim Gannon’s side created them several more chances after the opener, the best of which fell to on-loan midfielder Paul Turnbull, but his header from Danny L Rowe’s cross went wide.

Kidderminster were dealt another blow shortly after as full-back Tom Sharpe was stretchered off after getting his studs caught in the playing surface. Midfielder Dave Hankin was forced to fill in at the back, with Steve Burr choosing not to put any defenders on the bench.

County looked fairly comfortable holding onto their lead as half-time approached, but were thankful to captain Danny O’Donnell for a couple of important challenges as Harriers pressed for an equaliser.

Steve Burr made a switch at the break, bringing new striker Anthony Malbon on for Daniel Bradley but it had little effect, and it was in fact the Hatters who doubled their lead shortly after the interval. Danny L Rowe picked up the ball on the left hand side of the area and his low shot squirmed past Breeden at his near post.

After going two goals up, the last thing Jim Gannon’s side wanted was to concede a soft goal, but that was exactly what happened just a minute later. Nick Wright was given time on the edge of the area and his shot made its way into the net via a deflection.

Hatters fans could have been forgiven for fearing a collapse from their side after the goal, but the home side looked comfortable holding onto their slender lead.

Jim Gannon threw Martin Gritton on in place of Tom Elliott, and the big striker looked a handful, nearly netting with a header from Halls’ cross, before Tony Breeden saved another header.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie had Kidderminster’s best chance to equalise in the 84th minute when Jamille Matt’s pull-back found him unmarked in the area, but he could only put the ball into the Railway End with the goal gaping.

Jon Nolan had a glorious opportunity to wrap up the points for County in injury time when a neat bit of skill put him through on goal, but Breeden pulled off a fine save to deny the youngster.

In the end it didn’t matter as Jim Gannon’s side held on for a much needed and morale boosting victory.

Stockport: Ormson, Holden, O’Donnell, Halls, Piergianni, Connor, DL Rowe, McConville (Cole 88), Mainwaring (Nolan 72), Turnbull, Elliott (Gritton 57).

Subs: Glennon, Nolan, Cole, Gritton, DM Rowe

Kidderminster: Breeden, Williams, Jones, Sharpe (Hankin 34), Demetriou, Bradley (Malbon 46), Gittings, Storer, Hendrie, Wright (McQuilkin 67), Matt.

Subs: Lyness, Hankin, McQuilkin, Guinan, Malbon.

Ref: Simpson

Att: 3,728

Goals from Sean McConville and Danny L Rowe put the Hatters two goals to the good before Nick Wright pulled a goal back for Harriers. They had chances to level but were wasteful in front of goal, and Jim Gannon’s side held on for a much needed victory.

Burr said he couldn’t fault his side’s performance but was disappointed with the amount of chances they fluffed.

“I thought we did particularly well today, we just didn’t finish moves off,” he said during his post-match interview.

“We had numerous chances and I thought we started the game really brightly.

“I don’t like to be disrespectful to Stockport because they have won the game today and fair play to them, but in the first half they have had the one effort on goal and scored.

“We played some great football in and around the box and we just didn’t finish it off today.”

Routledge recently returned to Edgeley Park after a trial spell at League One Yeovil, where he impressed in a behind-closed-doors friendly, before Glovers boss Gary Johnson decided against a move for the 22-year-old.

The former Wigan youngster spent the first part of last season on loan at Hamilton from the DW Stadium, before making his move permanent in February 2010.

Routledge joined County last summer on a free transfer after impressing former boss Didi Hamann while on trial with the club.

Hattersley, who has netted 21 times for the Dolly Blues so far this season will link up with County next week and train with Jim Gannon’s side.

Gannon has been on the lookout for a new striker throughout the January transfer window, but Hesketh added it was unlikely the 19-year-old will join the Hatters during this window.

“We have close links with County and they know all about Danny, now that Jim Gannon has returned to the club they have picked up their interest again,” he told the Lancaster Guardian.

“I don’t envisage him leaving us this season, they have only made a tentative enquiry and it may be that he joins up with them next season.”

Hattersley has already been the subject of a bid this month from big spending AFC Fylde, managed by former County defender Dave Challinor, but the striker decided against a move to the Evo-Stik First Division North side.

There is a chance the game may not go ahead however, with a pitch inspection called for 9.30 on Saturday morning. Heavy rain in the area along with a dip in temperatures expected overnight could leave the pitch unplayable, although frost covers are said to have been laid.

The Harriers have been in fine form this season and are once again punching above their weight, sitting in 5th place in the table, just inside the play-off spots.

Jim Gannon’s side will be confident of getting a result though, after picking up points in their two previous fixtures against Braintree and Telford from losing positions.

Press Talk

Jim Gannon: ”Kidderminster are a good side. I’ve always admired what Steve Burr has done down there on a limited budget.

“They play that 4-2-3-1 formation that I like. They’ll be more difficult to break down than Telford, so we’ll have to make sure we’ve got players at the races to have a chance of winning.

“We didn’t lose the last two games, and we’ve gotten back to positions that showed quality of character. But we’ve made hard work of them and it shouldn’t be that hard to win games at home.”

Steve Burr: ”I thought they [Stockport] were a decent side here and I am very surprised at where they find themselves in the table.

“They came early in the season and looked a very useful team indeed. But we are on a good run at the moment and the lads are full of confidence.

“Hopefully, we can keep on pushing on and progressing like we have been doing lately.”

Team News

Hatters midfielder Sam Sheridan has joined Southport on loan after losing his place in the starting 11 and will therefore not play a part tomorrow. Ryan McCann is also out after being involved in a car accident yesterday.

Former County youngster James Vincent may miss out on a return to Edgeley Park because of a knee injury that has kept him out of Kidderminster’s last few games. Definitely out for Steve Burr’s side are Lee Vaughan and Jack Bryne who are both recovering from hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Stats

8 – The number of matches County have drawn 1-1 this season, the same result that the game against Kidderminster at Aggborough back in August finished.

11 – The number of times the two sides have scored in the last 10 minutes of their last five league games combined.

15 – The number of games combined since either side were last involved in a no score draw.

The former QPR man left County at the beginning of the month after the expiry of his short-term deal, and has since been playing on non-contract terms at South London based side Bromley.

The 20-year-old said the chance to have another shot at playing in the Football League was too good to turn down, and added Jim Gannon wanted to keep him at Edgeley Park.

“Stockport wanted me to stay but I wanted to try my luck in the Football League,” he said on the Brentford official website.

“I came down to Brentford for a trial for a week, I played a game yesterday, they obviously liked what they saw and here I am.

“The league is where I want to be.”

Sheridan has made 20 appearances for the Hatters this season since joining from Bolton Wanderers in the summer, but has lost his place in the side recently, following the arrivals of Matty Mainwaring and Paul Turnbull.

County boss Jim Gannon says Sheridan is still very much part of his plans, but added a month away from Edgeley Park will benefit the 22-year-old.

“Sam is very much part of our plans, he has recently had a fantastic spell in the team including a match winning performance against Barrow. This is a great opportunity for him to keep playing having lost his place in our starting line-up due to the arrival of Matt Mainwaring and Paul Turnbull,” Gannon told the official website.