RISING star Liam Lockett has his heart set on becoming a professional footballer – and reckons Worcester City is the perfect place to start.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is the first player to be placed on a contract by City since the club dropped down from National North, penning a one-year deal this week.

Ludlow-based Lockett is in his fourth season at Worcester having arrived on the back of spells with the youth set-ups at Shrewsbury Town, Burton Albion and Walsall.

He broke through to regularly feature for the under-21s last season and bagged a whopping 28 goals from 23 matches from the number-10 role he took up after being converted from a striker.

The University of Worcester student, who is about to embark on his second year of studying sports and exercise science, had a five-minute cameo on the left in a 1-1 draw at Stourport Swifts in April but has impressed sufficiently to spend pre-season with the senior squad.

And having made the stride into men's football, Lockett has no intention of making up the numbers.

“I always believed I could score well and I hope to continue that with the first-team this season,” said Lockett.

“I used to be a striker but moved back into midfield where I could affect the games a bit more.

“The coaching has been good for me, helping me to make the right runs and create the positions to score goals.

“I feel ready to make an impact and want to start games. That will be up to the gaffer, we will see what he wants to do but I will be doing everything I can to impress him.

“I have always wanted to go as far as I can and the Football League is definitely an ambition of mine.

“The club gives opportunities to players and the confidence to go out to play the right way as well, that’s what I have found since being at Worcester.

“Plenty of players have been pushed through, it is not just me and I think that makes it a good club to be at.”

City step up their preparations for next week’s Midland Football League kick-off by hosting Southern League Premier Division Central outfit Stratford Town at the Victoria Ground on Saturday (3pm).

Worcester head into the clash on the back of five wins from as many warm-up matches in which they have plundered 20 goals in trips to Malvern Town, Worcester Raiders, Dudley Town, Redditch United and Bewdley Town.

The practice games get rounded off on Tuesday at home to another team from two levels above, Stourbridge (7.45).

City’s competitive campaign begins with a league showdown at Boldmere St Michaels on Saturday, August 4 (3pm).