JOINT-boss John Snape has been offered fresh hope of Worcester City prospect Sam Yeomans returning from injury before the end of the season.

Worcester-born-and-raised Yeomans, 18, has been restricted to one first-team appearance and two matches for the under-21s following complications with an ankle complaint picked up in pre-season.

The Heart of Worcestershire College product made his eagerly-anticipated comeback in the League Cup defeat at Littleton in September but suffered a relapse shortly after.

Various tests and scans have yet to pinpoint the problem but with no ligament damage showing up, Snape hopes his defensive protégé can start on the road to recovery having enlisted the help of a specialist.

“It has been hard for him,” said Snape. “Sam is a tough cookie and thought he could play through it but it has taken time even to get to this point.

“We heard a crack when it happened and thought it was a break. After that we thought it would be major ligament damage judging by the size of his ankle.

“Having come through the youth and college set up he really shone during pre-season. He looked like being an integral part of the squad until the injury.

“After the Littleton game, we could tell something was not quite right. We had it assessed through the club doctor and got him moved on to a foot specialist.”

“This latest scan has given him a positive outlook and hopefully, with the help of the specialist, we will be able to get him some minutes before the end of the season.

"He has been working so hard in the gym to get back and just wants to be a part of what we are doing.

“Things look a lot brighter and we hope he can return to light training with the physio soon before working with the first team as soon as he is ready."

Prior to signing for City in the summer, Yeomans made 40 appearances across two seasons with Heart of Worcestershire's team in the Midland Football League Under-21 North.