THERE'S no doubt that this fortnight's break from fixtures will do the power of good for Worcester City and a small band of players eager to return to full fitness.

Saturday's long haul to Southport will be 15 days since City's previous Nationwide North encounter when they held Alfreton Town to a draw at St George's Lane, and I'm sure on each and every one of those days manager John Barton will have said a little 'thankyou'.

Because it meant another 24 hours rest for Leon Kelly, Rob Warner, Adam Webster and Nick Colley, those who have took to the field and given everything in recent weeks despite carrying the odd knock here and bruise there.

And because it gave extra recuperation time for Mark Owen following his pre-season knee injury, time which the prolific striker has used profitably, striking the net four times in two separate reserve fixtures.

However, for one player, the current respite from competition will have been spent pottering around the house hobbling on crutches.

Jai Stanley, City's midfield operator, won't be lacing up his boots in West Lancashire in four days time, or at any other location for the next month.

Operator is certainly a fitting word for Stanley after last week undergoing his second knee operation in less than 12 months.

The 26-year-old playmaker thought he had seen the worst of his injury troubles following successful surgery on his right knee last December. He returned a much fresher player and enjoyed his best pre-season for several years this summer - until the curse struck again.

Stanley said: "It was unbelievable because I tweaked it in the last game of pre-season against Sutton Coldfield. I did not think it was too bad at first and it was not stopping me from playing.

"The annoying thing is that I felt good in pre-season compared to the last few years. This time, I had a clear run and I went away on my own, lost a fair amount of weight, and got myself fit.

"I managed to play about seven or eight games this season but it got to the point where I was playing off balance and altering my run so not to damage the knee further. That just led to my groin getting sore and sometimes my hamstring hurting and it was affecting my game.

"It came to a head and I saw a specialist who asked me if I wanted a scan on the knee. I wanted to clear it up once and for all and the scan showed that I had damaged my cartilage. That's when I knew I would need another operation.

"They trimmed the medial side of my cartilage in the last operation. This time, they have repaired the lateral side so there is very little of my cartilage left. That's why I've got to make sure I'm totally ready before I start playing again."

Stanley added: "Hopefully, I'll be back early December because I don't want to miss the important games around Christmas. I have not produced my best consistently for Worcester yet, though I have got close to my best in certain games.

"I'm a fairly positive person and I'm confident that when I'm back to full fitness, I will hope to get that consistency back to my game."