WORCESTER City players face a blistering workout on the Malvern Hills when they return for pre-season training on Tuesday.

Boss John Barton is set to put the first team squad through their paces on the picturesque hills in preparation for a crucial season for City.

Barton has been buoyed with the news he has a fully fit squad to work with including the return of Nathan Jukes, who has recovered from a cartilage operation.

"Nathan will be in from the off, which is a big boost to us," he said.

"We want him fit and raring to go and not have the situation we had with Andy Ellis last year where we desperately wanted him back but he had a stress fracture and his loss was a big blow to our opening plans."

Pre-season is crucial for any club but Barton has other headaches hampering preparations.

"If you get a decent level of fitness it does set you up to some degree for what is to come," he added.

"But unfortunately for reasons such as holidays or work situations by the time the games come along you don't always have the full complement of players available.

"We will do some hill work then move on to ball work and team shape moving into the pre-season games."

After tasting Dr Martens Cup success last year, City fans are full of expectation for the coming season despite a poor finish to the campaign when they lost their last four matches to slump to eighth.

"People are well aware of what our aims and ambitions are for the coming season and we will get to that in due course," said Barton, who has refused to get carried away with title talk.

"Inevitably you pick up one or two knocks but hopefully we can maximise the build-up period to August 18 and arrive in good shape."