DANNY McDonnell has given Andy Preece a further summer boost by declaring himself fit and raring to go for pre-season training.

The 32-year-old Worcester City goalkeeper is currently undergoing rehabilitation following a successful hernia operation.

McDonnell was plagued with the problem during the final month of the Nationwide North season, summing up a frustrating injury-hit campaign for the former England National Game XI stopper.

He missed 17 competitive games after breaking his ribs on two separate occasions and puncturing a lung.

Player-manager Preece outlined fans favourite McDonnell, who in March passed the 200-appearance mark for City, as one of his major players in next season's bid for promotion.

And the St George's Lane chief will be delighted his number one goalkeeper is improving ahead of schedule before the squad returns for pre-season.

"I started running again last week and physically I'm feeling good," said McDonnell. "I should feel even better when we return for pre-season.

"I've had the operation and, thankfully, it went well. The rehabilitation is now slowly coming along.

"I needed surgery because I was having discomfort in my stomach area. I took painkillers to play through it in the last couple of games. I missed a lot of the season and I just wanted to get on the pitch, by hook or by crook.

"It was a disappointing season because I broke my ribs twice and punctured my lung, although I still played about 32 or 33 games. But with goalkeepers, sometimes you only have to miss a few games and people think you've had a bad season with injuries."

Dispelling the myth that footballers welcome gruelling pre-season sessions, McDonnell is intending to enjoy his break away from the action.

But the former Halesowen Town man is determined to run himself into the ground when the squad links up again on July 1.

McDonnell added: "It's something I'm not looking forward to. If I could retire now I would! I don't like pre-season and I have not heard of many footballers that do.

"But its got to be done. I've got to get my fitness levels back up and I'll be training really hard to make sure I'm fit as I possibly can be."