WITH Worcester City riding the crest of a wave, let us spare a thought for one player being forced to watch the success from the sidelines — Shabir Khan.

Once a mainstay of the team with huge promise, the left-back, a product of City’s youth system, has almost become the forgotten man at St George’s Lane.

It has been 16 months now since he suffered his knee injury, which subsequently needed surgery to repair anterior cruciate ligament damage.

Shabir did not kick a ball for nigh on a year but returned to pre-season training in the summer hopeful of once again pulling on a City shirt.

The 26-year-old was loaned to Stourport Swifts in a bid to sharpen his game but the road to full fitness remains a long one.

As well as sustaining an ankle injury while at Walshes Meadow, trusting his knee and recapturing the standard that brought him to the attention of Kidderminster Harriers has not been easy.

Manager Carl Heeley still involves the Pakistan-capped player in matchday warm-ups and would like nothing more than to see Shabir put his injury nightmare behind him, but does admit it won’t be any time soon.

Heeley said: “Shabir is really struggling with his knee. He’s not happy with it and it’s a really serious injury.

“I feel terribly sorry for him because it’s been 16 months.

“He went out to Stourport and got some games but turned his ankle. He’s not having any luck so I think it’s highly unlikely he will return soon.”