WORCESTER City favourite John Snape remains optimistic of a return to first team action before the end of the season.

The midfielder, who underwent surgery on his groin a month ago, reports the injury is healing well but he is reluctant to put a firm date on his return.

He enjoyed his first full training session on Thursday and was hoping to feature at St George's Lane later today in a reserve match against Shepshed Dynamo.

"I feel a lot better and would hope to play some part before the end of the season but I don't want to put a definite times-scale on it," he said.

"I had my first full training session on Thursday and might get half an hour in the reserves today as I find my feet again."

Off the field Snape is looking forward to his wedding in June before knuckling down to a hard pre-season including an eagerly anticipated trip to Belgium to play KSK Beveren in July for a pre-season friendly.

"I've never played in Europe before -- I think the Isle of Wight is as far I've got -- so I will definitely be going there," he added.

Snape has been badly missed since injuring knee ligaments and suffering a gashed calf in January's top-of-the-table match at Tamworth.

But the good news for City fans is that he has another year on his contract and at 33 has no intention of hanging up his boots. "I want to play as long as I can because I still love playing," said the former Hereford and Halesowen player.

Meanwhile Carl Heeley's hopes of completing a third league programme without missing a game have received a boost.

The City captain picked up a fifth booking in the 2-0 defeat by Tiverton Town but has escaped with a warning on his future conduct because the yellow card came after February.

David Foy and Dan Jones who were both sent off at Cambridge City last weekend have had their suspensions confirmed.

Foy's straight red card for violent conduct has earned him a three-match ban ruling him out of the Bath, Hednesford and Grantham games while Jones misses just the Bath match at St George's Lane next Saturday.