WORCESTER City favourite Mark Owen could one day be following in the steps of manager John Barton after being appointed assistant youth development officer at St George's Lane.

The prolific striker has been chosen to help run Ray Woods' successful academy and hopes to pursue a career in coaching after he hangs up his boots (in many years to come we hope).

For Owen, who recently completed the first part of his FA Coaching certificate, it has been a welcome distraction during his lengthy rehabilitation from his broken leg and dislocated ankle sustained in October and which has ruled him out for most of the season.

"I've finally found something I'm good at and from a personal and playing point of view things are going really well for me," he said.

"I've tried factory work but I decided that, being involved in football, I would make the most of it and give it a go with coaching and I would like to do this in the future when my career is over."

Owen takes up his post in the summer but has already been putting in some extra work helping out at three schools in Worcester as well as working closely with Woods.

"He's been magnificent and in his first season has already reached two finals so to do that is a great achievement," he said.

"I'm looking forward to joining up full time and there's some decent players coming through," said the prolific striker.

Owen's recovery is going well and he will be on St George's Lane pitch today as he continues the long haul back to fitness and despite the odd twinge things are going well.

"I've had a bit of a rest week because I've come quite far in a short period of time and wanted to rest the ankle a little bit," he said.

"I get a bit of pain in different areas as I start to work the ligaments but Archie Richards the physiotherapist said that is normal and you have to get through it.

"I'm on course to play again but whether it is this season remains to be seen but the aim was always to be ready for pre-season."