WORCESTER City are in talks with National League North club AFC Telford United over signing “technically-gifted” teenager Jack Downing on loan.

The 18-year-old striker has recently penned a professional contract with Telford after goal-scoring spells with Redditch United and Stourport Swifts last season.

But City manager Ashley Vincent is now aiming to secure Downing’s services for “at least” six months.

And Vincent hopes to get a loan deal rubber-stamped prior to Saturday’s Midland League Premier Division opener at Newark Flowserve (3pm).

“We are in discussions with Telford at the moment,” Vincent said.

“There has been a bit of toing and froing but he is somebody we are interested in bringing to the club.

“Whether we will be able to get it over the line remains to be seen but he is a talented boy.

“It will be a loan move as Jack has just signed a professional contract for a season but those details are to be sorted out on Thursday.

“If we can bring him in that would be fantastic as he will add to our forward players.”

Asked how long the loan deal would last, Vincent said: “If he does come the chances are it would be a six-month thing so at least until Christmas time.”

Downing was the unnamed trialist who netted the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Cradley Town.

He also came off the bench in the defeat to Bromsgrove Sporting before his identity was revealed when he was named in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Redditch United.

The forward was replaced by Jordan Harrison who provided the assist for Demetri Brown to cancel out Callum Coyle’s effort at the TRICO Stadium.

“Jack is technically gifted and very skilful,” Vincent said.

“He does have a turn of pace which is something we want all our forward players to have.

“But he is a little bit different as he is tricky and knows where the net is.

“If we want to achieve our ambitions we know we are going to have to score a lot of goals during the season.

“Jack would be a great addition to what we have already got.”

Downing is no stranger to the league having struck 11 times in 25 appearances for Stourport last term.

He also scored goals during his loan stint at Redditch and bagged six for Telford’s under 18s in their FA Youth Cup run.

“Jack is probably not what you would call a natural striker but he is a forward-thinking player,” Vincent said.

“For somebody to have a record of one-in-two at this level at 17 years old speaks for itself.

“We would like to think that experience improved him and we think we could improve him due to the way we play. He could be an asset to the team.

“But first of all we need to speak to Telford and hopefully get that one over the line.”

Frontman Jak Jeys has played just one game for City in pre-season due to “issues away from football”.

But Vincent insisted Downing was not a replacement for Jeys and said the latter could be back in action soon.

”Hopefully Jak will be back in the fold by the end of next week,” Vincent added.

“You can never have enough good players.

“I understand that you have to work within your budget and have a group of players that are hungry and getting game-time.

“But we feel having another striker at the club wouldn’t harm that.”