MARK Owen and Nathan Jukes will be on familiar territory when they step out for their opening league games for Evesham United next season.

The pair have long-standing links with Worcester City and the Conference North club's St George's Lane ground will play host to the Robins next term.

Owen was a firm favourite with the City fans before moving to Malvern last August. The striker never really got back to peak form after suffering an appalling double fracture of the leg and dislocated ankle in 2001.

However, he showed last season that he hasn't forgotten the way to goal with 24 goals that helped Malvern to third place in the Midland Alliance and subsequent promotion to the Southern League.

Owen is currently assistant to Worcester's full-time youth development officer Ray Woods so obviously knows his way around the ground both on and off the field.

Jukes joined City as a 19-year-old following four years at Portsmouth before Phil Mullen brought him to Common Road at the start of the 2202/03 campaign.

The midfielder played more than 70 games for the Robins, scoring more than 20 goals, before Dave Busst's arrival heralded his departure and a move to Malvern.

The Town skipper netted nine goals last season and his influence in midfield will be crucial if United are to make a swift return to the Premier Division.

Both players have followed Paul West's new No 2 Neil Hunt to Common Road and the pair might not be the last to move from the Langlands Stadium.

Richard Ball, Steven Hands and Anthony Watson have already pledged their future to Evesham and, the two new arrivals mean that West and Hunt have already assembled a major part of their squad for next season.