TYLER Weir is determined to put in the hard yards this month as he bids to transform himself into a “box-to-box” midfielder by the time the new season kicks off.

The former Hereford full-back has returned to training with Worcester City this week after pulling out of a move to Westfields to re-sign for John Snape’s team.

Weir said he was delighted to be back at City and was looking forward to playing in a more advanced position after boss Snape agreed to move him into the midfield engine room.

But with a month to go before Worcester return to competitive action the 27-year-old admitted he had plenty of work to do to get himself into prime condition.

“I played in central midfield when I was younger so I think I can do well there,” Weir said.

“I think I could have done a job there in Conference North having played a few games in midfield for City and some for Hereford in the Football League.

“But I need to get fitter.

“I have not had much of a pre-season but I trained the other night with Worcester and it was tough.”

Weir is expected to play in his new role tomorrow when City take on Worcester Raiders at Claines Lane (3pm).

And he stressed Worcester’s pre-season games would be key to improving his fitness levels ahead of the 2018-19 Midland League Premier Division campaign.

“Playing full-back is totally different to playing in central midfield,” Weir said.

“As a full-back you are primarily a defender whereas in midfield I want to be box-to-box.

“I think I am pretty fit but I want to be even fitter as I want to get into the box as many times as I can.

“I want to be ready for that first game of the season which isn’t that far away now.

“You can run all you like but playing games is where you improve your fitness.

“I want to play in as many matches from now until the start of the season and hopefully I will be in good condition.”

Weir made 28 appearances for City last term before finishing the campaign with Redditch United on a dual registration deal.

The Ledbury-based player then signed for Hereford club Westfields but due to a change in work commitments he backed out of the agreement and pledged his commitment to Worcester instead.

“When I left Redditch at the end of the season I had a few offers, but I was working in Ledbury at the time,” Weir explained.

“I decided to join Westfields as we could not agree on a deal at Worcester.

“But last week I had an offer to do a plastering job in Tamworth for eight months so I could not commit to Westfields anymore.

“I can’t drive so I would not have been able to get to games or training.

“I wish Andy Bevan and Sean Edwards all the best at Westfields and hope they do well this year.

“But I am a Worcester player now and that’s what I want to concentrate on.”