MANAGER John Barton is hoping to clinch a deal to keep Pat Lyons at Worcester City next season.

The midfielder has earned praise for his performances since Christmas and Barton is keen to keep him at the St George's Lane club for a third year.

Barton will look to finalise a deal next week when he is due to sort out his retained list once City discover which Conference division they are allocated to.

After a slow start to the campaign, with the legacy of a troublesome hip injury hampering him, Lyons came into his own at Christmas and delivered some excellent displays through City's impressive form in January, February and March.

Believes

Barton has always been a big fan of the little man, and believes his ball retention skills make City a better footballing side.

"Pat's a clever footballer and treats giving the ball away like getting away without buying a round of drinks -- and he's good at that too," said Barton.

"I know Danny McDonnell got the plaudits in terms of awards but I think since Christmas Pat has been our best player.

"He's had a big impact and I think we missed him both at the start and at the end of the season.

"It took him a while to get going this season purely because it took a long spell to get over his injury but he gives us shape and balance, without playing wing wide out on the touchline.

"He would probably like to play in the middle if he was given his chance but he does that role on the right as well as anybody I've had do it.

"Pat makes us a better footballing team. I think him, David Foy and John Snape were key performers in giving us that great start the season before."

One glaring omission from the Lyons CV at St George's Lane is goals -- just one in more than 60 games.

"If I had any criticisms of Pat it would have to be his lack of goals," said Barton.

"His football has been good but what you want is the whole package with a few goals as well. He's getting in positions but his finishing has not quite been there and that's something for him to work on."