FIT-AGAIN James Chambers says Worcester City have reignited his passion for football and pledged to play a key role in their fight for survival.

Since coming out of retirement to sign for Worcester in September, the veteran defender has spent almost four months nursing a hamstring injury.

However, after making his long-awaited comeback over the festive period, the 36-year-old revealed his determination to help 17th-placed City avoid the drop in Vanarama National League North.

Chambers started in last Saturday’s gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat to third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue which left City just two points above the relegation zone.

“I am pleased to be back,” said Chambers who tore his hamstring on his debut for Worcester against Gainsborough Trinity in early September.

“I don’t know whether (manager) Carl (Heeley) had much of an option other than to play me to be honest (due to the amount of injuries).

“But any time you step onto a football pitch it is a blessing so I always try to play with a smile on my face.”

With Tom Sharpe (knee) injured and Sam Oji banned, Chambers faces the prospect of playing two games in three days as City host FC United of Manchester tomorrow (3pm) before visiting Curzon Ashton on Monday (7.45pm).

“I am trying to get match fit which is always difficult when you are halfway through a season,” he continued.

“I need to do that in a controlled way so I am not taking any steps back and can be an option for the gaffer all the way through the season.

“Obviously having two games so close together will make it difficult to recover but hopefully I will be able to do that and be involved.”

Getting prepared for match-day was something Chambers did not think he would have to do again when he announced his retirement in July 2015.

Chambers started his career at West Bromwich Albion in 1999 before joining Watford in 2004 and Leicester City in 2007.

He also had spells at Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers and Hereford United before seeing out his professional playing career at Walsall.

But after a year out of the game Chambers revealed he was contacted by former City ace Sean Geddes who offered him the chance to play for Heeley’s men in the summer.

“I had an option of staying at Walsall which I was going to go ahead with but I chose not to and then I was retired and not thinking about playing again,” he said.

“But I was involved in some charity games with Sean and he texted me in pre-season asking if I fancied a game for Worcester and it just developed from there.

“I came along, trained, had a couple of games and before you know it I am out there pulling my hamstring.”

Despite his long injury lay-off, Sutton Coldfield-based Chambers, who runs a business called My Farewell which offers people the chance to film a video message to loved ones before they die, admitted the football bug had bitten him again.

“When you are a kid and you start kicking a ball around you get a love for it which you can’t get rid of,” added Chambers whose twin brother Adam still plays for Saddlers.

“You see some ex-players that whenever there is a ball they have to kick it.

“Obviously I missed it and I was grateful Worcester gave me the chance to play the game I love.”