MARK Danks revealed he had pondered hanging up his boots before rekindling his love affair with Worcester City.

Striker Danks, 33, returns with club and player in very different positions to when he last donned the blue and white.

Frequently the opponent rival fans loved to hate, the diminutive frontman had an impressive knack of scoring regularly in non-league’s second tier as well as being famed for his fiery nature.

But while City have slumped in recent years Danks has also found life tough during patchy spells with the likes of Tividale, Romulus and Lye Town, prompting an all-or-nothing mantra ahead of this season.

“This isn’t the first time I have been written off and no doubt it won’t be the last,” said Danks.

“Last season was a bit of an eye opener. I didn’t do myself any great credit so I sat down and had a think about whether I would give it up for good but I still feel like that 16-year-old kid who wants to score goals.

“I set myself the target of getting fit and if I had not got to where I needed to be then I would have knocked it on the head.

“Fortunately I went to Boldmere under my good friend Stuart Grosvenor (manager) who showed me a lot of respect and gave me belief.

“When Worcester came in even he said I had to go for it. He knew I wanted to play at the best club I could and was very good about it. I have ended up back at a club I hold in high regard.

“The reaction has been brilliant and it is quite humbling. I remember a lot of people who were young kids when I was last here and now they’re about four feet taller than me!

“I have had to laugh at a few comments and questions as to whether I have chilled out. The answer is maybe not but I am a bit wiser now.

“The fans are brilliant and the club should not be where it is but as players we can only give our all to get it back up the leagues.”

And Danks’ ambition is to achieve that goal sooner rather than later.

“We want to win the league. I’m not here to finish second and I don’t think anyone else is. Lee (Hughes, joint-manager) certainly isn’t,” he added.

“I want to get back that reputation I had when I was at City before and when I played for Northwich and even Sutton Coldfield.

“I have not done as well as I would have liked recently but this season is about the team and winning promotion.”

Danks starts his third spell at City competitively with Saturday's FA Cup extra preliminary round trip to Daventry Town (3pm).