WORCESTER City striker Mark Owen admits he is desperate to terrorise defences again -- starting with Lancaster City on Saturday.

Owen, 27, has not started a first team game for City since the National Conference Cup victory over Stafford Rangers on November 1, when he cracked three ribs in a collision with a pitch-side hoarding at St George's Lane.

He came on as a substitute in City's last three fixtures, against Stalybridge, Kettering and Runcorn, following a five-week absence to heal the ribs.

Owen also played for the full 90 minutes last night in City reserves' Worcestershire Senior Urn second round tie at Bromsgrove Rovers in a bid to improve his fitness.

Another player working towards match-fitness, City's player-coach John Snape. He also got a run-out at the Victoria Ground but he could not prevent his side losing 3-0, with strikes from Leon Lowe, Shaun Maynard and Courteney Shaw securing Rovers a semi-final tie away at Barnt Green Spartak.

Owen, who has bagged more than a century of goals for City since signing from Willenhall in March 1998, is now itching to bang in the goals again following a stop-start season.

He missed the first two months of the campaign after damaging his right knee in pre-season, and netted four times in four starts on his return before the injury shocker against Stafford.

Owen said: "I'm ready to start against Lancaster if the gaffer wants me out there. The ribs are fine now. The last couple of weeks have been fitness-based and getting back as quickly as possible.

"I've not expected to get straight back in the side. Unfortunately, Adam Webster got injured against Stalybridge and I got 70 minutes under my belt. But the gaffer said to me that I was not fit enough and that I would need a couple of weeks.

"It was good to get 90 minutes at Bromsgrove. I feel I'm ready now.

Meanwhile, City's veteran midfielder Paul Carty is to have a scan today to try and determine the extent of a calf injury which has kept him sidelined for the last eight weeks.