AS a young Birmingham City player in the early 1990s David Foy had it drummed into him the importance of possession.

Anyone at St George's Lane on Saturday, in fact at any match that Foy plays in, will recognise those lessons have been taken to heart.

If Carl Heeley topped the bill in the 7-0 thrashing of Bath City, Foy was certainly in line for best supporting role and another sign that he is close to conquering the injury problems that have plagued his time at Worcester.

Heeley's display stunned Foy and City's captain apparently delights in letting slip to his team-mates how ex-City boss George Rooney used to tell him he couldn't play the game and that he was just there to lump the ball clear.

That is something no manager has ever told Foy, of course, but a serious knee injury last season and a sore groin over pre-season had cast doubts on whether he would ever recapture full fitness.

But after a gentle introduction to the new season Foy appears to be on his way back and was particularly pleased with Saturday's display to the extent that he described it as a personal triumph.

"One of the things I've been striving for was to get back to the level where I could walk off a pitch and feel like I've really dictated the game," said Foy.

"The Bath game from that point of view was a personal victory in terms of the performance I put in and I just hope I can continue it."

Deft of touch and effortless in his ability to find his team-mates, it is a legacy of playing at the top level.

"I've always been the type of player that sees it as a personal insult to give the ball away," he said. "If everyone passes to someone in the same colour shirt you're not going to be too far away.

"Playing at Birmingham sharpened up my thought processes. One thing the coaches were always trying to drill into us was to think what we were going to do with the ball before it even arrived at our feet.

"At a higher level there are always options available but in non league there are not as many options which makes it a bit harder to keep possession."

Foy, who lives just a minute's drive from Manor Park, is relishing Saturday's FA Cup clash with Nuneaton and facing a number of old pals such as Gez Murphy, Terry Angus, Mike Love, Dave Norton and Darren Acton.

Unbeaten Boro will set a stiff test for City but Foy has happy memories of the FA Cup, particularly with Tamworth where they reached the first round proper three years out of four and taking Football League opposition to replays.

One of those teams was Bury and Foy's football skills were put through a rigourous examination by none other than former City favourite Darren Bullock.

Bully was quicker and meaner in those days but Foy's St Andrew's schooling stood him in good stead.

"He tried to be intimidating to the younger players but I knew about him and what to expect," recalls Foy. "When I received the ball I could feel him breathing down my neck but two touches and the ball was away so he couldn't get close enough to kick me anyway."

It's that cool-headed approach that will be vital to City's cup chances and win, lose or draw one thing is for sure Foy won't be caught giving the ball away.