McDonnell eyes return to best form
10:10am Saturday 19th July 2008
DANNY McDonnell says he is focused on getting back to his best for Worcester City.
The goalkeeper made his first appearance for nine months following shoulder surgery in the 4-0 friendly defeat against Walsall at St George’s Lane on Tuesday.
He had only been lined up for a brief cameo but trialist Zac Jones got stuck in traffic and did not arrive until the second-half.
Although he saw three goals go past him before being replaced by Jones, McDonnell was pleased with his efforts and delighted his shoulder held strong.
Now he wants to build on that and play as much as he can in the remainder of the pre-season programme, starting today against Nuneaton Town (3pm).
He said: “It was a little bit unexpected because I had been away on holiday. I had had one training session, which was all physical, so I hadn’t put on a pair of gloves since November so it was a little bit daunting.
“I was quite encouraged by the way I played. It’s a start and I am looking forward to getting more games under my belt. I can only take each training session and game as it comes. To get through the game without a reaction was really encouraging.”
A fully mended McDonnell has also been able to indulge his other passion of cricket in recent weeks and he smashed 109 for Pedmore against Coombs Wood in Crusader Worcestershire League Division Two at the weekend.
Cricket, though, is now on the back-burner as he strives to be in peak fitness by the time City visit Bognor Regis in Blue Square South in three weeks.
“I want to play as much as possible having been out for so long,” McDonnell said. “I want to try and enjoy playing football again.
“The most important thing for me at the moment is to get as many games under my belt as I can.”