A CLOSE inspection of Worcester City's substitutes' bench at the weekend will reveal not just a group of talented footballers but also a gifted cricketer.

Teenage striker Duncan Willetts is the man in question as both star with bat and football.

Willetts plays Minor Counties cricket for Herefordshire and in his debut season this summer played half-a-dozen matches including making 49 on his debut.

The 18-year-old is a batsman/wicketkeeper though he had to play second fiddle to Ismail Dawood behind the stumps.

He is not the only outstanding cricketer at St George's Lane with keeper Danny McDonnell a former Worcestershire U19s and Second XI batsman.

Among Willetts' team-mates this summer was former Test pace bowler Martin McCague but despite his cricketing ability with the small red ball it is the big white footballing one that Willetts prefers.

"I've always played at a better level in football so that's the one I prefer," he said.

After two years at Second Division Cheltenham Town including spells in the reserve team, Willetts finds himself at St George's Lane after im-pressing during pre-season.

Alongside the likes of Dan Jones and Dean Smith he is champing at the bit to taste first team action but with Mark Shail injured it could be Jones who makes the breakthrough first.

Currently studying at University Worcester, Jones captured the imagination with an assured display ag-ainst a full strength Bedworth United side in pre season.

Calm and unflustered and very much in the Shail mould he earned a year's contract from City manager John Barton and is widely tipped to make the breakthrough after previously being on the books at both Coventry City and Kidderminster Harriers.

Barton has counselled patience to his young players but in a long and hard season it should not be too long before the City faithful will be able to run their eye over the next generation of talent.