CONNOR Gater says he is keen to make up for lost time after getting his career back on track at Worcester City.

Just five years ago Gater was an England under 18s schoolboy international and looked to have the world at his feet.

But a long-standing hamstring injury hampered his progress and he ended up flitting between clubs in the lower reaches of the non-league pyramid.

A spell with Gornal Athletic, when he played against his current employers in the FA Cup, was followed by a move to Tipton.

Yet, it wasn’t until he played in last season’s Midland Alliance League Cup final, in which Quorn beat Tipton 1-0 at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium, that he was spotted by City assistant manager Matt Gardiner.

That led to a pre-season trial with the Blue and Whites and the 22-year-old midfielder is now looking to show what he is capable of in Vanarama Conference North.

Gater said: “The last few years I have been knocking around in the Midland Alliance and Combination but I haven’t really been focusing on my football because I’ve had a few injuries.

“I got the injury when I was at Wolves when I was 15 but I didn’t find out what I had done properly until I was 19. Because I knew what I had done I had a chance to get it right.

“I started seeing a new physio and she got me up and going again. She got me mentally and physically prepared and I’ve managed to get this move.

“It’s definitely making up for lost time. With the injury it was a massive setback, it took me five years to get over the problems and I have just been waiting for this opportunity.”

He added: “I’m not a big-headed person, but I could have been playing here earlier if things had gone my way and I was concentrating.

“Now that I’ve actually come here it was hard at the start with the big step up so many levels with fitness and players being better. But I am taking it my stride and trying my hardest.

“It is going really well. I’m enjoying it. I’ve come a long way after playing with Tipton but the lads are great and I’m looking to keep improving.”

Gater has started five of Worcester’s eight matches so far this season and provided the cross for Sean Geddes’ opener in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Lowestoft Town at Aggborough.

That result lifted City to 13th in the table and Gater believes there are good times ahead for Carl Heeley’s side.

He said: “They’re a team that are actually looking in the right direction and are a lot more professional than other clubs I’ve been at.

“I think if we carry on sticking together, keep listening to the gaffer and stay positive, I think we can grind out results.

“I think it’s going to be tough, especially coming up to the Christmas period when pitches aren’t going to be as good, but if we can score a few goals I think we’ll be fine.”