WORCESTER City have got their eyes on the “top prize” as they kick off their Midland League Premier Division campaign with a trip to Boldmere St Michaels today (3pm).

John Snape’s side challenged for promotion last season only to slip to fourth 15 points adrift of champions Bromsgrove Sporting.

But City have made a number of summer signings including strikers Kyonn Evans, Jordan Harrison and Joe Bates and added former Cheltenham Town ace Ashley Vincent to their coaching staff.

Assistant boss Vincent believes Worcester have got the credentials to push for the title but has now urged his players to produce the goods on a consistent basis.

“I don’t think there is any point going into a season, especially as a big club at this level, and not be aiming to get the top prize and get out of this league,” Vincent said.

“Obviously a lot of factors will determine that such as whether you can keep the squad fit, keep the players in the team and not move on to other clubs and perform to your level which you can see in pre-season has been high.

“If they can do that more times than not then they won’t be far off.

“We want to compete and be consistent in the way that we play and the results that we can get but football is about winning.

“Ultimately (finishing top) is our goal but that is probably the same for 10 to 12 teams so it is now up to us to keep everything low-key.

“It is down to the boys to train hard, play to their potential and show us they are more than capable of achieving that goal.

“Time will tell with that but there is no denying that we want to be successful and get out of this league.”

Striker Nick Turton looks set to miss City’s season opener with a knee injury while converted midfielder Tyler Weir is suffering with a thigh complaint.

But Vincent said he was happy with the fitness of his side ahead of their battle with Boldmere at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground.

Worcester beat Boldmere 4-3 in the FA Vase last season but were held twice by the Sutton Coldfield side in the league.

“I don’t know much about Boldmere but there will be enthusiasm and energy from both sides,” Vincent said.

“If we have got any aspirations of achieving our goal we would like to get a good start under our belts.

“But we also realise that the league is not going to be won or lost on the first weekend.”

Vincent also felt City, who notched 23 goals in seven pre-season games, would be able to cope without Turton at Boldmere.

“We would rather go into the season with Nick,” added Vincent whose side visit Romulus on Monday (7.45pm).

“But it is not like we have got one or two strikers. We have got four very capable strikers who are scoring goals and creating problems.

“They have all been performing really well so hopefully they can take that forward into the next couple of games.”

City have signed three pre-season trialists ahead of the Boldmere trip.

Midfielder Ben Clarke, who previously came through the Kidderminster Harriers academy and played for Halesowen Town, has agreed terms for 2018-19.

Centre-half or right-back Luke English has done likewise after being on the books at Redditch United and Highgate United.

Keeper Dan Jezeph has signed on dual-registration terms from Tamworth where last season he appeared in National League North.

Jezeph can play in the FA Vase but not the FA Cup.