IT'S thanks to Jon Holloway that left-back Kevin Halliday has been given the chance to resurrect his career at Worcester City after being released by Swindon Town.

The 19-year-old, who signed non contract forms at the start of the season, intends to make the most of it - once he's shaken off a knee injury picked up eight days before the season at Bishop's Cleeve.

He will be a frustrated on-looker when league leaders City visit Crawley Town today but was hoping for better news on the injury following a scan yesterday.

"It was pretty disappointing to get injured right at the end of pre-season but if it is just the lateral ligaments then hopefully I should be back fairly quickly," he said.

Holloway, a community officer at Swindon Town, got to know Halliday as he made his way through the ranks at the County Ground and spotted a talent that had been honed since he was 10-year-old at their Centre of Excellence.

Halliday followed a three-year scholarship with a one-year full-time contract before being released at the end of last season.

"I played in the youth team for the first two years and then about 60-70 reserve team games," he said. "I also played about 10 first team games as a substitute, under first Roy Evans and then Andy King, and was sub for quite a lot of last season."

A first-team debut in an LDV Vans Trophy tie with Millwall in the 2000-01 season was a highlight but towards the end of last season Swindon boss Andy King decided he was surplus to requirements.

"I was disappointed to be leaving but I knew it was coming since about Christmas time so it wasn't really a shock," said Halliday.

A trial Colchester United followed but it was Holloway's instigation that he came down to Worcester to train.

"Talking to Jon, he said it was a good standard of football, not much different to the Conference or Third Division," added Halliday.

"Colchester asked me to come back for pre-season but said there were no guarantees. I came back down here, had a chat with John Barton and it's all gone from there really.

"I have settled in really well, and having Jon Holloway here has helped me in that. The trip to Belgium helped me get to know the rest of the lads," he added.