REUBEN Spiring is aiming to shake off his 'forgotten man' tag this season - with the help of Worcestershire's second eleven.

The 26-year-old batsman has launched another comeback bid after his nightmare knee injury which has needed seven operations.

And as part of his determination to prove his career is still on track he's turned to the County's second string.

He said: "We decided it would be best to go into the second team, play a few games to get myself back knowing that I can go through three days without a problem and also get some runs under my belt."

Spiring's injury misery flared up again last season when it was revealed he required a seventh operation on his right knee.

The unwelcome announcement came after he had played in just three Benson and Hedges Cup ties, three County Championship matches and four Norwich Union League games.

For Spiring it was a bitterly disappointing setback which placed a big question mark over whether his career was in danger of coming to a premature end.

His eagerness to make another comeback, however, is currently going through another important phase -- and the signs are looking good.

A half century for the second eleven in a recent one-day friendly against Gloucestershire at New Road proved his run-scoring abilities are starting to come out of hibernation.

Spiring was given the go-ahead by surgeons to return to action and "they are very positive about getting a whole playing career".

Starting off in the second team, however, was regarded as the most sensible way to launch another comeback attempt.

He said: "From a squad aspect there was no point going in like we did before and breaking down. That sort of disturbs the squad a bit."

Foundation

Spiring laid the foundation for his comeback during the winter months with a rigorous training schedule.

"I got myself back to full fitness, but these are the things I think it's hard for people to realise. An operation is an operation, but to get back to full fitness for us guys is a lot of hard work.

"Psychologically, that's the biggest thing for me. After the latest operation it was about getting back to full match fitness and be positive enough that it's going to be fine."

Spiring, however, is well aware that there's still a long way to go to fulfil his ambitions for this season.

"For me it's just about getting back into the side and getting a full season. When I've played I've always felt positive that I can perform at a high level.

"It's just about actually getting back into the side and being consistently fit to stay in the team. How long it will take to do that exactly I don't know."

Spiring, however, knows that the best way to knock on the door for first team selection is to stack up the runs for the second eleven.

"That's what I've always thought. But I never believed that my career was over.

"I think I've always been very positive and I've had such a good feedback from the specialist surgeons that I've thought 'yes, I can get a crack at this.' I'm 26 now and the point of having all these operation was to get me though so I could have a career.

"This is not just a quick-fix for a couple of years. I want to do this now and have a career out of it. I'm not interested in just playing half-heartedly for a couple of seasons with niggles. I want to be 100 per cent and be able to go through a whole career.

"But it will never be a normal knee again. It feels different that's all I can say. I knew after about three or four operations that it was going to cause me more problems than a normal knee. Hopefully, when I'm scoring runs and doing well it will be absolutely fine and I'll be saying 'right this is it, I'm pushing for my spot back.' Obviously, I don't intend to play in the second team for any longer than I have to really."

Spiring's build-up to the season, which includes playing for Kidderminster in the Birmingham League, was certainly different to most.

As part of the County's mopping-up operations at their rain sodden New Road ground he piloted a helicopter which hovered over the pitch enabling the down-draught to speed up the drying out process.

n University College Worcester first team will play their annual fixture against Worcestershire CCC Development Xl at New Road tomorrow (11am start). Admission free.