WORCESTER City return for pre-season training on Thursday evening with joint manager Matt Gardiner promising a “scientific approach”.

Gardiner, who is doing the second part of his UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence next month, and Carl Heeley have adapted a non-league version of the former’s brother Nathan’s programme at top-flight Spurs, where he is strength and conditioning coach.

Worcester may be playing games at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough base but they will be returning home to train at Little Perdiswell, Droitwich Road, in preparation for the start of the National League North campaign on Saturday, August 8.

As well as their new signings, City have a number of trialists and youth players looking to impress ahead of the first pre-season friendly at Southern League outfit Bishops Cleeve on Saturday, July 11.

Gardiner said: “We really want to hit the ground running. The players have had an off-season programme and their conditioning should be there or thereabouts. They are fit lads.

“We will want to get onto the technical work with the ball as soon as possible. There will be several trialists joining us as well as some of the younger players. We want to keep the players as sharp as we can.”

The City management will balance the work-to-rest ratio but there is unlikely to be any hiding from plenty of running in the first pre-season session.

The club are looking forward to a rare home friendly while at Aggborough, when an XI from Midlands giants Birmingham City visit on Friday, July 31.

City have so far signed forward Ryan Rowe from Brackley Town, centre-backs Alex Gudger and Clayton McDonald from Rugby Town and Redditch United respectively and left-back Darren Campion from Hednesford.

They extended the deals of keeper Nathan Vaughan, full-back Tyler Weir and forward Daniel Nti late last week.