AS a journalist in his own right Mark Shail is in a position to write his own headlines both on and off the pitch.

But today it is on-field activities that dominate the ex-Bristol City captain's thoughts as he nears a return to the Worcester City line-up after seven weeks out injured with medial ligament damage.

It's been a frustrating period for Shail, who arrived at St George's Lane midway through last season, to bail out injury-stricken City, where he started his career as a teenager.

A series of man-of-the-match displays persuaded John Barton to extend his stay at the club and after eight matches of the season the decision was reaping dividends with Shail an integral part of the that unbeaten start.

Unfortunately an awkward landing in the first minute of the match at Crawley Town saw him limp off and out of action.

During his absence from the first team Shail has had the distraction of writing for the Professional Footballers' Association website as well as producing articles for non league magazines and the Press in the South West.

At just turned 36 Shail could well be in his last season at St George's Lane but that is not something the defender is dwelling on at present.

"I don't know what I am going to do next season but for now I just want to get playing again," he said.

"It was frustrating to get injured when I did because we were unbeaten and playing well.

"I need to get some training under my belt and maybe the manager will want to give me a few reserve games but I can't wait to get back. "But I'm under no illusions that I'm just going to walk straight back in because although the team is not playing its best at the moment, they have still been playing well in general."

For many City supporters the recent debut of Dan Jones brought back memories of Shail's breakthrough into George Rooney's side in the mid 1980s.

As someone schooled in both matters on and off the pitch - he has a psychology and sociology degree from Surrey University - Shail is a good judge of both character and player and is fulsome in his praise of the teenager.

"I've got a lot of time for Dan and we talk quite a lot because we both went to the same school in Droitwich," he said.

"I think he is a player with a good chance of making it and he's got all the qualities that you need, he's quick, strong and good in the air, but his best attribute is his attitude because he's a good listener and that's a strength."